Sit Down Young Stranger

Gordon Lightfoot
Sit Down Young Stranger

I'm standing at the doorway
My head bowed in my hands
Not knowing where to sit
Not knowing 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 wandering
They say you travelled 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've 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 oftimes 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 too 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
When you cannot find yourself?
My mothers eyes grow misty
There's a trembling in her hand
Sit down young stranger
I do not understand
And will you try and tell us
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 nothing left to say
My father has departed
My mother's gone to pray
There are rockets in the meadow
And ships out on the sea
The answer's in the forest
Carved upon a tree
John loves Mary
Does anyone love me?