This song says it all. Thanks Zack for the great read!

Hard Love

by Bob Franke

I remember growing up like it was only yesterday,
Mom and Daddy tried their best to guide me on my way.
But the hard times and the liquor drove the easy love away,
And the only love I knew about was hard love.

It was hard love every hour of the day,
When Christmas to my birthday was a million miles away.
And the fear that came between them drove the tears
     into my play,
There was love in daddy's house, but it was hard love.

I recall the gentle courtesy you showed me as I tried
To dissemble in politeness all the love I felt inside.
And for every song of laughter was another song that cried,
This ain't no easy weekend, this is hard love.

It was hard love every step of the way,
Hard to be so close to you, so hard to turn away,
And when all the stars and sentimental songs dissolved to day.
There was nothing left to sing about but hard love.

So I love you for your courage and your gentle
     sense of shame,
And I love you for your laughter and your language
     and your name,
And I knew it was impossible, but I loved you just the same,
Though the only love I gave to you was hard love.

It was hard love, it was hard on you I know,
When the only love I gave to you was love I couldn't show.
You forgave the heart that loved you as your lover
     turned to go,
Leaving nothing but the memory of hard love.

Now I'm standing in this phone booth with a dollar and a dime,
Wondering what to say to you to ease your troubled mind,
For the Lord's cross might redeem us, but our own just
     wastes our time,
And to tell the two apart is always hard, love.

So I'll tell you that I love you even though I'm far away,
I'll tell you how you change me as I live from day to day,
How you help me to accept myself and I won't forget to say,
Love is never wasted, even when it's hard love.

Yes it's hard love, but it's love all the same,
Not the stuff of fantasy but more than just a game.
And the only kind of miracle that's worthy of the name,
For the love that heals our lives is mostly hard love.

Currently reading:
Hard Love
By Ellen Wittlinger