As things start to surface
Tears come on down
Scars of childhood
In a small town

Hurt she pushed inward
Starting to show
Now she'll do some talking
But he'll never know

Tables have turned now
With a child of her own
But she's blind to the difference
What's taught is that's known

Numbed by reaction
Stripped of the trust
A young heart is broken
Not aware that it's just

A family tradition
The strength of this land
Where what's right and wrong
Is the back of a hand
Turns girls into women
A boy to a man
But the rights of the children
Have nowhere to stand

But the rights of the children
Have nowhere to stand
Memories of children
Are written in stone
Some they get buried
Not to be shown
Still they do linger
Deep down inside
Like a seed that's been planted
And won't be denied

A family tradition
The strength of this land
Where what's right and wrong
Is the back of a hand
Turns girls into women
A boy to a man
But the rights of the children
Have nowhere to stand
But the rights of the children
Have nowhere to stand

Copyright: Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Writer(s): K. D. LANG