Mothers Daughters Wives

A# F The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons A# D# F And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns A# D# A# But you never thought to question you just went on with your lives D# Cm D# F Fsus4 F 'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives A# F You barely just remember the tears your mother shed A# D# F As she sat and read the paper through the lists and lists of dead A# D# A# And the gold frame held the photograph your mother kissed each night D# Cm D# F Fsus4 F And the door frame held the shocked and silent stranger from the fight A# F And twenty-one years later you had children of your own A# D# F The trumpet sounded once again and the soldier boys were gone A# D# A# And you made their guns and drove their trucks and you tended to their wounds D# Cm D# F Fsus4 F At night you kissed their photographs and prayed for safe returns A# F The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons A# D# F And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns A# D# A# But you never thought to question you just went on with your lives D# Cm D# F Fsus4 F 'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives A# F And when it was all over you had to learn again A# D# F To be just wives and mothers though you'd done the work of men A# D# A# So you worked to help the needy and you never trod on toes D# Cm D# F Fsus4 F And the photo on the mantelpiece struck a happy family pose A# F But your daughters grew to women and your little boys to men A# D# F And you wished that you were dreaming when the call-up came again A# D# A# But you proudly smiled and held your tears as they proudly waved good bye D# Cm D# F Fsus4 F But the photos on the mantelpieces it always made you cry A# F The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons A# D# F And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns A# D# A# But you never thought to question you just went on with your lives D# Cm D# F Fsus4 F 'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives A# F And now your growing older and in time the photos fade A# D# F In widowhood you sit back and reflect on the parade A# D# A# And the passing of your memories as your daughters change their lives D# Cm D# F Fsus4 F Seeing more to their existences than just mothers, daughters, wives A# F The first time it was fathers, the last time it was sons A# D# F And in between your husbands marched away with drums and guns A# D# A# But you never thought to question you just went on with your lives D# Cm D# F Fsus4 F 'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives A# D# A# And you never thought to question you just went on with your lives D# Cm F7 A# 'Cause all they'd taught you who to be was mothers, daughters, wives