Everything I Know

NINA In this album, there's a picture Of the ladies at Daniela's You can tell it's from the 80s by the volume of their hair There's Usnavi, just a baby '87, Halloween If it happened on this block Abuela was there Every afternoon I came She'd make sure I did my homework She could barely write her name But even so She would stare at the paper and tell me, "Bueno, Let's review. Why don't you tell me everything you know?" In this album there's a picture Of Abuela in Havana She is holding a rag doll Unsmililng, black and white I wonder what she's thinking Does she know that she'll be leaving For the city on a cold dark night? And on the day they ran Did she dream of endless summer? Did her mother have a plan? Or did they just go? Did somebody sit her down and say, "Claudia, get ready, To leave behind everything you know." Everything I know What do I know? In this folder there's a picture Of my high school graduation With a program, mint condition And a star beside my name Here's a picture of my parents As I left for California She saved everything we gave her Every little scrap of paper And our lives are in these boxes While the woman who held us is gone But we go on, we grow So Hold tight, Abuela, if you're up there I'll make you proud of everything I know Thank you, for everything I know