Take it all

Take it all, take it all
This sweet devotion of mine
That I rendered onto you



Take it all, take it all
This heartfelt love that I besotted unto you
Believing that I could have a happy ever after



You raise hopes
Like mountains, they shoot for the stars
Creating a tapestry of dreams and aspirations



But your swift turn breaks everything
Destroys the words of hopes and the eyes of aspirations
You leave me speechless and broken



So, take it all, take it all
The pedestal I granted you
The innocent smile I gave you



Take it all, take it all
The bubbly voice of joy I once had
The flutter in my heart when I hear your voice



All I asked was for a dad
And you came in
My joy knew no bounds



But you did little to hold that joy
Disappearing for weeks, months even
Leaving bills uncleared for my mother



My mother who would run the world,
If my brother and I were to die
She is a queen



A queen that held us regally
A queen that ruled better than you
A parent that supersedes everything of you



So, take it all. Take it all
My short-lived memories of you
My ache when you don't pick up the phone



Take it all, Take it all
My hopes every time I see a message, thinking it's you
My illusions of finally relaxing with you



Now I'm a shadow
Anger malicious hands have mingled with grief on my being
Joy leaves as I'm naked for the world to see



Tears sprout from my soul
But my eyes dry
Only glaring intensely at your picture whilst breathing sighs of sadness



Why, why did you hold me
So tenderly
Saying we would take the world



My brother, a realist
Saw your fade
But I believed in the good of people, even when I saw your red flags.



Take it all, take it all
There's no remedy to help me
Or a cure that will remove your mistakes that are forever etched into my bleeding heart



Take it all, take it all
This love I had is water under the bridge
I'm no longer chasing pavements



Take it all, take it all
My love has morphed to anger
And I regret ever knowing you, father



Take it all, take it all
The Lord will be my father
He will guide me



Take it all, take it all, I beg
This pain you left
When I thought you were the real deal



Real men don't run from problems
They face it
They protect their families



But you're a Disneyland father
Swoop in magically with bribes
And go leaving me with wanting but knowing it's not coming



So, take it all, take it all
I'll hold my mother
And sweep your essence into the river Lea or river Niger



Take it all, take it all
I won't deny it, I miss you terribly and love you as a father
But you are no dad, so I won't grieve you as such



Take it all
Take it all
Take it all



The sweet innocent child is gone