Lyrics

What I Wanted To Say

Marie's smooth voice and storytelling lyrics combine familiar detail and a gentle sense of humor to sing of the everyday life of a mother and wife. Through her light acoustic style, she offers hope and encouragement to those willing to sacrifice for marriage and family.

One Heroic Moment
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 1995

Sometimes it amazes him that a man can work so long.
He didn’t know till he had mouths to feed he could ever be that strong.
The alarm goes off and in disbelief he pulls it from the shelf
And he thinks how he’d give anything to just be somewhere else.
But in one heroic moment he lifts his sleepy head.
And with both his eyes still closed, he sits up in the bed
And reaching for the light he prays, “Today please be with me.
I know that this is nothing compared with Calvary.”

The work days pass with only aggravation to be had.
What can a man look forward to when he’s had a week like that?
There’s a place downtown with lots of laughs and noisy company
And Joe says “Let’s hit Happy Hour, the first one is on me.”
But in one heroic moment he says “I’m headin’ home”
And they tease “Come on, a man deserves his nights out on his own.”
And as he turns to go he prays, “Right now, please be with me.
I know that this is nothing compared with Calvary.”

One heroic moment in an ordinary day
Minute after minute, little steps along the way
He knows he must deny himself for the man he needs to be
And each heroic moment slowly sets him free

He’s tempted to compare himself to his friends and to the world,
To complain “She doesn’t realize she is such a lucky girl.”
Seems like half the time when he gets home, she’s tired and she’s cross,
And he’d like to switch the channel, find the news and just get lost.

But in one heroic moment he says “Come sit with me.”
And he reaches for them all as he turns off the TV
And he thanks the Lord above as they surround him and he sees
The burden here is sweet, compared with Calvary
Yes, the burden here is sweet, compared with Calvary.

If Only
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 1996

This dress, it would look just fine, if only, if only
And this house, it would be alright, if only
And my job, it wouldn’t be so bad, if only, if only
And I could show ’em how it’s done, if only

If only things were different
And wishing made it true
Then we’d live and love like heroes
Every day would be so full

And he, he would be just perfect, if only, if only
And I could love him so much better, if only

If only things were different
And wishing made it true
But I sit, dreamin’ these days away
While the moment s slip right through

We, we would be so happy, if only, if only
Yes we, we would be so happy, if only
We, we would be so happy, iIf only

Don’t You Think I Count?
©Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 1995

He was working late
She said “Do you know the time?”
He said “Now can’t this wait
I’ve got to catch the other line.”
So she slammed down the phone
And she started to shout
And she cried out to no one
“Don’t you think I count?”

Well she sat and she stewed
In the blue TV light
This was nothing new
Just an old worn out fight
And it was half past ten
When he walked in the house
And she cried out again
“Don’t you think I count?”

“Don’t you think I count all the nights when you miss dinner?
Don’t you think I count the days there’s just too much to do?
Don’t you think I count the weeks since you have looked into my eyes?
Don’t you think I count the hours till you walk into our room?
Don’t you think I count on you for everything?
Oh, don’t you think I count?”

It took him by surprise
He didn’t know what to say
It was not in his plans
That she should feel that way
He said “What more can I do?
I work day in and day out.”
She said “I’m not getting through
I asked you: Don’t you think I count?

And he, he looked like a child
Stubborn and proud and then a helpless smile
And he, he said “I do it for you
I do all that I know to make your dreams come true.”

Standing there in the hall
She felt her hair going gray
A souvenir of The Fall
And it’s always been that way
So she sighed “I just miss you,
And that’s all this is about.”
At a loss he just kissed her
And asked her “Don’t you think I count?”

“Don’t you think I count all the nights when I miss dinner?
Don’t you think I count the days there’s just too much to do?
Don’t you think I count the weeks since you have looked into my eyes?
Don’t you think I count the hours till I walk into our room?
Don’t you think I count on you for everything?
Oh, don’t you think I count?”

You Don’t Know The Half Of It
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 1995

I was walking through the frozen foods when I saw her again
She said “You look like you’ve been up for half the night.”
And as she grabbed five Lean Cuisines she said “Now ain’t that just like men.
After all these years its time he got it right.
And I believe if he were mine I’d have to teach him quite a bit.”
And I said “Oh, honey, you don’t know the half of it.”

She said “You know these things are really so unfair.”
As she wrapped her perfect nails around my shoulder.
“And you still in that dress and with that hair,
Till you get what you deserve, you know,
You should be a little colder
And I believe if he were mine I would be pitchin’ quite a fit.”
And I said “Oh, honey, you don’t know the half of it.

‘Cause for every time he’s let me down
There’s ten times he’s come through
And for all my inconveniences I know his love is true
And when it comes to hearts there’s no way there could be
A closer fit
Oh no, honey, you don’t know the half of it.”

She said “Come on now, you can’t fool a friend.
I can see there’s something hurting in your eyes.
And there’s only so much a girl should bend
Here, have a magazine, you know I don’t mean to pry
But I believe you would be happier if you just called it quits.”
And I said “Oh, honey, you don’t know the half of it

You know all about the things that come between a man and wife
And I know you know exactly how to start a brand new life
And you’re there for me whenever I lose heart or lose control
But you don’t know the half that makes me whole
Oh no, honey, you don’t know the half of it
No honey, you don’t know the half of it.”

Here I Am (The Morning Offering)
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 1995

Maybe if I could get up
Just a little earlier
I could find some peace for myself
If I carefully and quietly
Tiptoe past the bedroom doors
And sneak a coffee mug down from the shelf
And request a private audience with Him
A secret meeting in the morning light still dim
And I’d say…

Here I am, take all I have today
Take my hands, take my mouth, make the words that I say
Take this cluttered heart, make it simple and sure to obey
Here I am, take all I have today

It would not be long before I’d hear
Some footsteps coming down the hall
And someone turning on the light
Saying “Mom what are you doing here?
It isn’t even daytime yet.
Have you been sitting here all night?”
And I’d brace myself for the noisy day
But silently I once again say….

Here I am, take all I have today
Take my hands, take my mouth, make the words that I say
Take this cluttered heart, make it simple and sure to obey
Here I am, take all I have today
Yes here I am, take all I have today

Thy Will Be Done
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 1995

It was an unexpected flood that came to me today
Sometimes bad news follows good and it’s really hard to say
“Thy will be done”

So there’s been a change in plans , what am I supposed to do?
When it is out of my hands and I can’t see my way through
When I can’t say “Thy will be done, Thy will be done”

Well I will go to the altar and I’ll say “Amen”
And I’ll open my mouth and I’ll try again
“Thy will be done, Thy will be done”

Well it scares me so to think what You can take away
But I know that if I ask I’ll have the grace to say
“Thy will be done”

Oh, the flesh and blood of life are yours for the taking
And my helpless human heart is yours for the breaking
“Thy will be done
Thy will be done”

It was an unexpected flood that came to me today
Sometimes bad news follows good and it’s really hard to say
“Thy will be done, Thy will be done, Thy will be done”

What Difference Does It Make?
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 1995
What difference does it make if I comb my hair?
I’m not going anywhere today
It’s just me and the kids and they don’t care what I wear
And he’ll be at work all day

What difference does it make if have a thought?
It’s all routine anyway
And what’s the big deal if I lose a whole day?
Hey sometimes we all need a break

And what difference does it make?
What difference does it make?

Can You see me? Can You hear me?
Does it matter to You at all?
Are You watching? Are You loving?
Are You listening to my call?
Does it make any difference at all?
Does it make any difference at all?

What difference does it make, my little life
In a ranch house in Tennessee?
Oh, they pay me no heed but to say that it’s crazy
Havin’ three kids in diapers, like me

What difference does it make? Sometimes I’ve got to ask
It’s kind of important to me
And in the clamor and noise I felt a sudden stillness
And this is what He said to me
Yeah, I think I heard Him say this to me

Have some patience, teach my children
Be a light for all you see
Life is loving, so mind the details
Wrap it up and send it to me
And what a difference there will be
Oh what a difference you will see

What I Wanted To Say
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 1996

The kids and I were standing there in line
Between the candy bars and TV Guides
It was kind of late and the kids were getting wild
The woman just in front gave me a condescending smile

She said, “Excuse me please, are these all yours?
You’ve really got your hands full, that’s for sure
Tell me, when do you get time for you?
You know there’s so much more a woman can do.”

Well what I wanted to say was “Wait a minute please,”
What I wanted to say was “Look closer and you’ll see
How they are beautiful and I would not take back a single day.”
That’s what I wanted to say

The check out girl, she scanned six loaves of bread
She took one look at me and shook her head
She said “It must cost a fortune, raisin’ kids these days.
Thank heavens mine are grown now and they’re payin’ their own way.”

The simple things are hard to say and harder to believe
Why can’t they see these eager faces are the best of me?

Well I suppose that if I told him about my crazy mixed-up day
About the kids who would not listen to a single thing I’d say
And how I sometimes wonder: is this how I should spend my time?
He’d say “You’re off in your own little world,
I need you, won’t you join me please in mine?”

And I suppose that if he told me about his crazy mixed up day
About the boss who would not listen, about the deadlines and delays
And how he sometimes wonders: Is this how he should spend his time?
I’d say “You’re off in your own little world
I need you won’t you join me please in mine?”

And together, there’s nothing we could not do
We’d set the world on fire with one simple love that’s true

And I suppose if we got on our knees and tried to find the words to say
Why our stubborn hearts won’t listen, why we stammer and we stray
And why we spin here in our circles so sure that there will still be time
He’d say “You’re off in your own little world
I need you, won’t you join me please in mine?”

And together, there’s nothing we could not do
We’d set the world on fire with one simple love that’s true

“You’re off in your own little world
I need you, won’t you join me please in mine?”

There are seven sleepy pairs of eyes
Waiting for me at my table
I must go and give their day a smile
And I wonder if I’m able
No cup of coffee I have met
Could ever get me through this day

And without You I can do nothing
Oh but with You I can do anything
Without You I am a clanging nagging noise
But with You I’ll raise girls and boys

There is a house that’s really not so small
Not with some bunk beds and some mirrors
There is a phone that’s ringing off the wall
I feel my limit getting nearer
And there’s no smart woman on TV
Who looks a thing like me, and so I know…

That without You I can do nothing
Oh but with You I can do anything
Without You I am a clanging nagging noise
But with You I’ll raise girls and boys

Toys on the floor, blood on the knees
“I need some more, now mommy please”
A first step, a first uniform
Slowly the Body is born

I am a woman staring at the sink
I cannot think or understand
Where did it go, I hardly even blinked
And now the day’s slipped through my hands
Oh please, grant me a new start
With a fresh and fervent heart, help me, I know…

That without You I can do nothing
Oh but with You I can do anything
Without You I am a clanging nagging noise
But with You I’ll raise girls and boys
Oh yes, with You I’ll raise girls and boys

Echoing behind, the doors closed him inside.
The ancient whispered incense he’d loved as a child
Though the candle beckoned brightly, he’d smothered his last spark
He cried “Your arms, they are all empty, and Your house, it is all dark!
Comfort for the weak and old women dressed in black,
To the strong You do not speak. Why don’t You call us back?
I’ll do You no favors, I’ll make my own name”
Then somewhere in his heart he heard “Will you, too, go away?
Will you, too, go away?”

The wedding of his daughter brought him there again,
A royal celebration for family and friends,
The beauty of the dome, the intense but gentle glow,
The feet gnarled up in pain beneath the hammer’s blow.
He’d lift his eyes no further, he did not want to see.
“Why are You always suffering, suffering at me?
I’ve no need for Your pain, I’ve paid my own way!”
Then somewhere in his heart he heard “Will you, too, go away?
Will you, too, go away?”

Years down the road, a simple change in plans:
Thanksgiving dinner ruined by one broken down van.
It shocked him so to feel the panic and the dread
Of being left alone and he had to clear his head.

Where was that candle with it’s constant burning light?
It was swimming in his tears, just a blur of strange delight.
And the words so long unspoken, so many years unheard
” I know I am not worthy, but only say the word.”
And the crumpled eyelids closed clearing years of wasted doubts
And he lifted up his heart to feel the wounds and hear the shouts
And the arms that spread to hold him, and the pain upon the face
Said “So long I’ve waited for you, please, this time won’t you stay?
This time won’t you stay?, This time won’t you stay?”