[Verse 1] I kept the hallway light on I kept your shoes beside the bed I learned the language of your breathing I knew every dream you had I watched the shadows at the window I counted every passing car You never knew how close I held you You never knew how safe we are [Refrain] Sleep, my little one The water's only water The dark is only dark And I am only your mother [Verse 2] I used to dream about the ocean Before I learned to fear the shore Now every wave comes looking for us Like a hand beneath the door I saved your drawings in a drawer Your little coat, your Sunday shoes Funny how a house keeps everything Except the things you cannot lose [Refrain] Sleep, my little one The water's only water The dark is only dark And I am only your mother [Verse 3] You said you wanted room to breathe I thought you meant another room I opened every window Still I couldn't let you through There's a certain kind of quiet That a mother learns to fear When the whole world stops its talking And the only sound is here [Bridge] I held you like a promise I held you like a debt I held you till the shape of you Was all that I had left And if I called it heaven Would you know me by my voice? If I called it being careful Would you say you had a choice? [Outro] Sleep, my little one The water's only water The dark is only dark And I am still your mother I am still your mother I am still—
