Before I died too young, my heart was aching For all the women, my knees were shaking Before they buckled, I was starving Trying to lose that baby weight, oh, come here darlin' Before I was a mother, I was just a girl Just doing my figuring, figuring how to fit into this world That was not the way to stay forever young That was what they taught me And now the damage it is done But I could use some mercy on my soul tonight (La-la-la-la-la-la-la) Gotta leave these children, gotta leave 'em both behind (La-la-la-la-la-la-la) By the grace, oh, by the grace I am listening (La-la-la-la-la-la-la) You are not alone, can you hear me singing? Before I died too young, my fists were swinging So angry and undone, my wounds were stinging Before I got 'em, I knew how to cry I knew how to love, I didn't want to die young Before I was a father, I was just a boy A boy who loved his mother, a boy who loved the world I wanted to stay, to stay forever young Was never meant to happen And now the damage it is done And I could use some mercy on my soul tonight (La-la-la-la-la-la-la) I gotta leave these children, gotta leave them all behind (La-la-la-la-la-la-la) By the grace, oh, by the grace I am listening (La-la-la-la-la-la-la) You are not alone, can you hear me singing? Remember who you are (you're more than your scars) Remember who you are (before you die too young) And stay forever young But I could use some mercy on my soul tonight (La-la-la-la-la-la-la) I could use some mercy tonight (La-la-la-la-la-la-la) By the grace, oh, by the grace I am listening (La-la-la-la-la-la-la) You are not alone, can you hear me singing?