Sit Down Young Stranger

Gordon Lightfoot

I'm standin' at the doorway, my head down in my hands
Not knowin' where to sit, not knowin' where I stand
My father looms above me, for him there is no rest
My mother's arms enfold me and hold me to her breast
"They say you've been out wanderin', they say you've traveled far
Sit down, young stranger and tell us who you are"
The room has all gone misty, my thoughts are all in spin
"Sit down, young stranger and tell us where you been"
"Well, I've been up to the mountain, I've walked down by the sea
I never questioned no one and no one questioned me
My love was given freely and oft-times was returned
I never came to borrow, I only came to learn
Sometimes it did get lonely, but it taught me how to cry
And laughter came to easy for life to pass me by
I never had a dollar that I didn't earn with pride
'Cause I had a million daydreams to keep me satisfied"


"And will you gather daydreams, or will you gather wealth?
How can you find your fortune if you cannot find yourself?"
My mother's eyes grow misty, there's a tremblin' in her hand
"Sit down, young stranger, I do not understand
And will you try and tell us that you've been too long at school?
That knowledge is not needed, that power does not rule?
That war is not the answer, that young men should not die?
Sit down young stranger, I wait for your reply"
"The answer is not easy for souls are not reborn
To wear the crown of peace, you must wear the Crown of Thorns
If Jesus had a reason, I'm sure he would not tell
They treated him so badly, how could he wish them well?"
The parlor now is empty, there's nothin' left to say
My father has departed, my mother's gone to pray
There's rockets in the meadows and ships out on the sea
The answer's in the forest, carved upon a tree:
"John loves Mary,"...does anyone love me?