all of my memories start at three on the cracked porch you gave me lily of the valley you showed me verdi operas and ballet and we walked the zoo in bare feet but by when i was twelve or thirteen you d made sure sir the world was my oyster then followed your master to sod and disaster the games in the parlor went covered in dust and it became hard for you to win back my trust bit by the fireflies alight our leering neighbor use to watch me cry by night i m indie in a pit of poison snakes by day your joined twin aches for second takes if i feel low and guilty after one night of drinking then i know by 60 it must feel like you re sinking your shoulders shrinking oh what were you thinking as i huddled by your hospital bed and slowly lowering your head you said everything good that has happened yet is overshadowed by regret by night my specters breathe and dream of darker shapes by day i m only haunted by the stakes now my battles have waned and seem minute and i miss how each breath of youth burned acute but every memory that i conjure brings the pain that this won t last longer i m saying how i raise my daughter will be a tribute so here s to you dad i m yours i ll drain one too drink up the screen fades black to strings of blue