Harry Chapin — Tangled Up Puppet

There was a time that you curled up In my lap like a child You'd cling to me smilin' Your eyes wide and wild Now you slip through my arms Wave a passing hello Twist away and toss a kiss Laughin' as you go You used to say "Read me a story." And, "Sing me songs of love." For you were Princess Paradise On the wings of a dove Now I chase you and I tease you Tryin' to remake you my own You just turn away and say "Please leave me alone." And I'm a tangled up puppet All hangin' in your strings I'm a butterfly in a spider's web Fluttering my wings And the more that I keep dancin' And spinning 'round in knots The more I see what used to be And the less of you I've got You are a drawer full of make-up And rinses and things You keep changing your moods Like your earrings and rings But tonight while we played tag For five minutes in the yard Just for a moment I caught you off-guard And I'm a tangled up puppet All hangin' in your strings I'm a butterfly in a spider's web Fluttering my wings And the more that I keep dancing And spinning 'round in knots The more I see what used to be And the less of you I've got Now you write your secret poems In a room just for your dreams You don't find time to talk to me About the things you mean And what I mean is-- I have watched you take shape From a jumble of parts And find the grace and form Of a fine work of art Hey, you, my brand new woman Newly come into your own Don't you know That you don't need To grow up all alone