PAPA
Anka Paul Lyrics

Everyday my papa would work
My father worked daily to support our family and make ends meet.

To try to make ends meet
He worked to earn enough money to support our family.

To see that we would eat
Providing us with food was one of his priorities.

Keep those shoes upon my feet
He worked to provide us with the basic necessities of life.

Every night my papa would take me
Every evening, my father would spend time with me.

And tuck me in my bed
He would make sure I was tucked in bed before sleeping.

Kiss me on my head
Before sleeping, he would kiss me on my forehead.

After all my prayers were said
I would pray before going to bed and he would kiss me after that.

And there were years
There were many years we spent together.

Of sadness and of tears
There were tough times and we shed many tears.

Through it all
But we were always there for each other.

Together we were strong
We were a strong and supportive family.

We were strong
We were strong together.

Times were rough
There were difficult times.

But Papa he was tough
But my father was strong and resilient.

Mama stood beside him all along
My mother was always by his side.

Growing up with them was easy
Growing up with my parents was not difficult.

The time had flew on by
Time flew by quickly.

The years began to fly
The years began to pass by faster.

They aged and so did I
As the years passed, we all aged.

And I could tell
It was clear to me.

That mama she wasn't well
My mother's health was deteriorating.

Papa knew and deep down so did she
My father knew it, and my mother knew it too, deep down.

When she died
When my mother passed away.

Papa broke down and he cried
My father was emotionally overwhelmed and cried.

And all he could say was, "God, why her? Take me!"
He was devastated and did not understand why my mother had to be taken.

Everyday he sat there sleeping in a rocking chair
My father would spend his days sitting in a rocking chair, sleeping and being constantly reminded of my mother's absence.

He never went upstais
He never went upstairs because it reminded him of my mother's absence.

Because she wasn't there
Because my mother was no longer with us.

Then one day my Papa said,
Then one day my father said to me,

"Son, I'm proud of how you've grown"
"I am proud of the person you have become, my son."

He said, "Go out and make it on your own.
"Go out, be independent, and make your way in the world.

Don't worry. I'm O.K. alone."
"Don't worry about me, I am alright by myself."

He said, "There are things that you must do
"There are things that you need to do in life.

He said, "There's places you must see"
"There are places you need to see and experience in life."

And his eyes were sad as he
I could see the sadness in his eyes as he said these words.

As he said goodbye to me
As he bid me farewell.

Every time I kess my children
Every time I kiss my own children.

Papa's words ring true
I remember my father's words and they still resonate with me.

He said, "Children live through you.
He had advised me that my children will look up to me and learn from me and my actions.

Let them grow! They'll leave you, too"
It was important to let my children grow and learn before they eventually leave home and start their own lives.

I remember every word Papa used to say
I still remember and reflect on every word my father had said to me.

I kiss my kids and pray
I kiss my children and pray for their wellbeing.

That they'll think of me
I hope that my children will remember me.

Oh how I pray
This is my ardent wish.

They will think of me
I hope my children will keep me in their thoughts.

That way
In a positive and loving way.

Someday
Hopefully, someday.