Martha - In Memory of His Mother

 Michael Stanley Gee (March 25, 1948 – March 5, 2021)
was an American singer-songwriter.  This was written in memory of his Mother.  

 

 

Martha
--words and music by Michael Stanley
from the Album The Hang in 2012

Martha took the news and put her things away
And said it's time we all go home
Wasn't quite the way she saw that day
Just goes to show you never know
What comes rolling round the corner
Or stealing through the night
Or when it's time to rage against the fading of the light ...

	She said I know you only want to take my pain away
	But it's ashes to ashes dust to dust
	And I want to tell you that I'm not afraid
	I'm curious
	I'm just curious ...

Martha said she'd thought about it long and hard
And there wasn't all that much she'd left undone
She'd seen the moon rise on a Kenyan night
And from the Great Wall seen the setting sun
And she watched her babies' children have children of their own
And said just how amazing was this life she that she had known ...

	She said I know you only want to take my pain away
	But it's ashes to ashes dust to dust
	And I want to tell you that I'm not afraid
	I'm curious
	I'm just curious ...

And she stared out of her window
In a reverie of peace
And cherished every second till her moment of release

	She said I know you only want to take my pain away
	But it's ashes to ashes dust to dust
	And I want to tell you that I'm not afraid
	I'm curious
	I'm just curious ...
	I'm just curious ...

 

Martha - Michael Stanley - YouTube

 

How Can I Help You Say Goodbye

"How Can I Help You Say Goodbye"

Through the back window of a '59 wagon
I watched my best friend Jamie slippin' further away
I kept on waving 'till I couldn't see her
And through my tears, I asked again why we couldn't stay
Mama whispered softly, Time will ease your pain
Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same
And she said, How can I help you to say goodbye
It's OK to hurt, and it's OK to cry
Come, let me hold you and I will try
How can I help you to say goodbye

 
I sat on our bed, he packed his suitcase
I held a picture of our wedding day
His hands were trembling, we both were crying
He kissed me gently and then he quickly walked away
I called up Mama, she said, Time will ease your pain
Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same
And she said, How can I help you to say goodbye
It's OK to hurt, and it's OK to cry
Come, let me hold you and I will try
How can I help you to say goodbye

 
Sitting with Mama alone in her bedroom
She opened her eyes, and then squeezed my hand
She said, I have to go now, my time here is over
And with her final word, she tried to help me understand
Mama whispered softly, Time will ease your pain
Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same
And she said, How can I help you to say goodbye
It's OK to hurt, and it's OK to cry

Come, let me hold you and I will try
How can I help you to say goodbye
How can I help you to say goodbye.

Released March 1994 - Patty Loveless