Kirsty MacColl

The Hardest Word

Kirsty MacColl


With me in the valley you out on the hill 
I can just see you if I close my eyes 
Climbing those mountains I picture you still 
I see your smile just as I saw the sunrise 
This land is ancient it's built out of bones 
At war with each other, the mother, the father 
The sisters, the brothers, the daughters and sons 
Be kind to each other, your father, your mother 

On the horizon the eagles are flying 
And I mean no more than a cloud in the sky 
I never know if I'm laughing or crying 
The hardest word is the word goodbye 
Teach me the old ways I'm ready to learn 
Be kind to the sister, be kind to the brother 
The writer, the singer, the poet, the clown 
Be good to the man and be kind to them all 
And we are ancient built from bones 
Make time for the young and make time for the old 
Be kind to each other oh that's what I know 
Be kind to the mothers, daughters and sons 

The true and the great and the scared and the small 
Be kind to each other, be kind to them all 
Forgive our indignity and we forgive yours 
As I am the mother, you are the father 
Entwined in each other, now and forever 
The fathers of daughters, the mothers of sons 
Forever and ever and ever as one 
As we are the fathers, we are the sons 
And we are the daughters, the mothers and brothers 
Forever and ever and ever as one