Tangled Up Puppet
Words and Music by Harry Chapin

I'm a tangled up puppet 
Spinning 'round in knots
And the more I see what used to be
The less of you I've got

There was a time that you curled up in my lap like a child 
You'd cling to me smiling, your eyes wide and wild
Now you slip through my arms, wave a passing hello 
Twist away and toss a kiss, laughing as you go

You used to say "Read me a story and sing me songs of love" 
For you were Princess Paradise on the wings of a dove
Now I chase you and tease you trying to remake you my own 
But you just turn away and say "please leave me alone."

And I'm a tangled up puppet all hanging in your strings
I'm a butterfly in a spider's web, fluttering my wings
And the more that I keep dancing and spinning round in knots 
The more I see what used to be and the less of you I've got

You are a drawer full of makeup and rinses and things
You keep changing your moods like your earrings and rings 
But tonight while we played tag for five minutes in the yard 
Just for a moment I caught you off guard

And I'm a tangled up puppet all hanging in your strings
I'm a butterfly in a spider's web, fluttering my wings
And the more that I keep dancing and spinning round in knots 
The more I see what used to be and the less of you I've got

But now you write your secret poems 
In a room just for your dreams
You don't find time to talk to me 
About the things you mean 
What I mean is...

I have watched you take shape from a jumble of parts
And find the grace and form of a fine work of art
Hey you my brand new woman newly come into your own 
Don't you know that you don't need to grow up all alone