Song Description

I tried painting a picture with my music of my first experience visiting the largest women's prison in the nation located in Central California. It is a known fact that women in prison rarely receive any visitors while incarcerated. I think it was this understanding that stirred my heart to write a song to raise awareness of our women, who are doing time. Truly they are the forgotten ones. Thank you for listening... Mary Ann

Lyrics

Words and Music by Mary Ann Young

c2009

She wakes up one morning with hope in her heart
As she puts on her makeup rehearsing the part
of the moment when she gazes upon the face
of a son she's not seen in 400 days

Her heart is now pounding to the loud ticking clock
As she wonders if maybe perhaps they forgot
It's happened before, the same every time
The tears pouring now as she's wanting to die...

(chorus)
This is a place where mothers cry
This is a place where clouds pass by
This is a place where the sun does shine
This is a place where birds can fly

Her bones are so frail as she struggles to walk
Her hearing is going, no desire to talk
But her eyes are still strong as she reads the words
of a friend in a letter, like the song of a bird

Her heart is failing, but her mind is set
on the moment before her, old promises kept
When she'll walk through the gate into the arms of a friend
Forever they're sisters through thick and through thin...

(chorus)

(bridge)
I know there are those who must pay the price
If you do the crime, you must do the time
But who are we to treat them like filthy trash
Just throw away the key, better for you and me

I know there are victims, I know what it's like
They all have a voice, this is only right
But I've looked in the eyes of a broken shell
She's young and she's old, taking what has been dealt...

(chorus)


*This song is dedicated to our women in prison...
...the forgotten ones.