My mother was music My father was the word My sister had a voice like none you ever heard And I learned the stories and songs to be sung When I was young I was young My mother was a forest My father chopped the wood My sister kept the fire burning best she could And I made the sparks fly and I burned my tongue When I was young And I was young My mother was a preacher My father was a friend My sister was the teacher until the end And I was brother and I was their son And I was young And I was young My mother died praying My father died broke The sister said 'Be careful' and that's the last she spoke And they were gone and then I was one But I was young And I was young Now I am older Now I am grown Now I am colder but not alone I'm with my lover and my daughter and my son And they are young Mm-hmm And they are young Mm-hmm They are young Mm-hmm