If I Could

If I could I'd protect you from the sadness in your eyes Give you courage in a world of compromise Yes, I would If I could I would teach you all the things I never learned And I'd help you cross the bridges that I burned Yes, I would If I could I would try to shield your innocence from time But the part of life I gave you isn't mine I watched you grow So I could let you go If I could I would help you make it through the hungry years But I know that I can never cry your tears But I would If I could If I live In a time and place Where you don't want to be You don't have to walk along this road with me My yesterday Won't have to be your way If I knew I'd have tried to change the world I brought you to Through there wasn't very much that I could do But I still would If I could If, if I could I would try to shield your innocence from time But the part of life I gave you isn't mine. I watched you grow So I could let you go If I could I would help you make it through the hungry years But I know that I can never cry your tears But I would If I could Yes, I would Yes, I would If I could