Lyrics Cradle and All - Audra McDonald

Cradle and All

It’s time I sing this song for her she never sang for me
The one about the child falling from the family tree
It’s not like she didn’t love me, no, that I’d never believe
It was just so hard to give and even harder to receive
So hush, oh hush, don’t you cry
I’m singing to you this lullaby
So tiny, so fragile, where once you stood tall
Oh hush, oh hush, don’t you fret
Your melody isn’t over yet
And I will forgive you, as you will forget
Or down will come baby, cradle and all
Down will come baby, cradle and all
It’s time I wrote that song for him he couldn’t write for me
He was not the type to jump for joy, hand out cigars for free
It’s not like he didn’t love, no, that I’d couldn’t conceive
There are many ways a man can stay
And many ways that he can leave
So hush, oh hush, don’t you cry
I’m writing this simple lullaby
The girl in the doorway who’s bouncing the ball
Oh hush, oh hush, don’t you fear
For if you are far, or if you’re near
Pretend that you’re here now to sing in my ear
Or down will come baby, cradle and all
Down will come baby, cradle and all
It’s time I wrote a song for her
Who hovers like a dream between the here and there
It’s time I wrote a song for him
Who vanished like a moonbeam in the floodlight’s glare
To who knows where
So hush, oh hush, don’t you cry
I’m singing this simple lullaby
The house has a window where there was a wall
Oh hush, oh hush, don’t be scared
I know that you tried, I know cared
Let’s put it behind us, that noise in the hall
Or down will come baby, cradle and all
Or down will come baby, cradle and all
Cradle and all