I'm gonna write you a letter And sign it from your mother I'm gonna leave it in a safe place For when it's too late to talk I hope you can read my writing I know my hand is shaking I was just a baby You came halfway through the storm ♪ Oh, I wrote you this letter 'Cause I missed you on the phone that time Oh Pearl, don't be mad that you You're a lot like me I know it's hard to see it Oh Pearl, I wrote this song for you I hope your dreams come true My mother failed me too Oh Pearl, maybe you're better off without me As long as you're free ♪ The doctor took you from my chest Told me I was your poison Half a century I've been watching you go down that driveway From the day I broke the curse Oh, I wrote you this letter When I made it through that endless storm Oh Pearl, don't be mad that you You're a lot like me I know it's hard to see it Oh Pearl, I wrote this song for you I hope your dreams come true My mother failed me too Oh Pearl, maybe you're better off without me Pearl, this is your lullaby Your medicine was my goodbye I know I left in a hurry And Pearl, if I really got to choose I'd rather win than lose you Either way, I'm sorry ♪ Oh Pearl, don't be mad that you You're a lot like me I know it's hard to see it Oh Pearl, I wrote this song for you I hope your dreams come true My mother failed me too Oh, maybe you're better off without me As long as you're free