Autumn Leaves

In the care home, she was dozing, quiet in her chair
I whispered, "Hey Mama, it's me, your daughter, I'm right here"
Her tired eyes slowly focused, drifting back from afar
She frowned a bit, then gave a little smile
And her daughter knew she was back for a while

I can't quite recall your name
But I smile and nod all the same
If I look dazed and confused, be careful, I've got a short fuse
Got that old Alzheimer's disease
And my memories are fading like falling autumn leaves

More often now, she's living in the past the most
Down in Louisiana, where the bayou breeze still blows
She's a teenage girl adoring her big brother
As he drives her in his Caddy to the ice cream store
Then time jumps forward, she's a wife with babies at her feet
Husband working double shifts just trying to make ends meet
She's cooking, she's sewing, making clothes with needle and thread
Building a life with love and grit, keeping her family warm and fed

Now her daughter sits down, holding tight to Mama's hand
Answering the same repeated questions she's forgotten again
Each day another doorway in her mind closes one by one
And the rooms behind them never open again

I can't quite recall your name
But I smile and nod just the same
If I'm dazed and confused, put Texas baseball on the TV
Got that old Alzheimer's disease
And my memories are fading like falling autumn leaves

She tells herself not to be sad, not to be angry at Mama's fate
'Cause the Mama she knew has already slipped away
The shell that's left has no burdens, no sorrow or fear
Dang it, she just can't remember how she got here
But one thing Mama holds on to, one thing she won't forget
Her faith in Jesus and the promise He kept
Mama hums an old sweet hymn, eyes turn to the light
And her daughter knows she'll see her whole again
When the Lord makes all things right

I can't quite recall your name
But I smile and nod just the same
If I'm dazed and confused, give me a glass of milk and a Butterfinger
Got that old Alzheimer's disease
And my memories are fading like falling autumn leaves
My memories are fading like falling autumn leaves