[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Why didn t anyone believe
A single word when you said it was
It was your father s friend
Yeah, only fourteen, life goes on
Who knows, you prob ly brought this on yourself
It s better not to tell
[Chorus]
Mother, mother, how many tears have you cried?
Mother, I will listen to you tonight to the truth
Mother, how many years before you could breathe?
Mother, I won t turn away when you speak
I m listening, I m listening
[Verse 2]
To a daughter now it happens too
Freshman year, he s waiting in your bed
Suppose to be a friend
You tried to forget the way you felt
You fought, but he forced himself on you
He left you black and blue
[Chorus]
Sister, why did nobody trust your cries?
Sister, I will listen to you tonight to the truth
Sister, you are braver than you believed
Together we will find a way to healing
I m listening, I m listening
[Bridge]
And brother, where could you go?
Honestly, we don t know what to do
When a teacher takes what he took from you
And brother, where could you run?
Shame turned you silent and made a prison
Could you learn to speak again
If we were only listening?
[Chorus]
Brother, there is freedom for you to cry
Brother, I will listen to you tonight to the truth
Brother, I pray you can begin to breathe
Brother, please don t, don t be afraid to speak
I m listening, I m listening,
I m listening, I m listening
I m listening
