before you arrive

susan and rix, who maintain this web-site, are expecting their first child any second … this is a lyric from a new musical i’m writing with janet hood — i started it about a week before finding out susan was pregnant and i finished it with them very much in mind … congratulations to these good friends and a big “welcome to the world” to the lucky child who has them for parents …

hey, little one
whoever you are
you’ll soon be arriving
from somewhere afar
we’ll do all we can
to make certain you’re safe
that the rough and the tumble
don’t chafe

before you arrive
we’ll try to clear
the weeds from your way
try to keep
the monsters at bay
try to find you
a safe place to play
plant a garden
where you can thrive
before you arrive
before you arrive

hey, little one
we can’t wait to see
what kind of a person
you’ll turn out to be
we’re planning ahead
yeah, we’re doing our best
to make sure that you like
your new nest

before you arrive
we’ll try to make
a space just for you
clear a place
in our little zoo
like the woman
who lived in a shoe
we’ll be busy bees
in our hive
before you arrive
before you arrive

anticipation
has been rising
like eagles in the sky
your new fam’ly
fantasizing
how high you might fly

before you arrive
we’ll try to clear
the weeds from your way
try to keep
the monsters at bay
try to find you
a safe place to play
plant a garden
where you can thrive
before you arrive
before you arrive