Story Behind The Song

A true story . My father and I had such separate lives and difficulty communicating and it didn't get better with a cancer diagnosis. We tried and got through to the end with his need for more time and wish to celebrate every moment. A nurse who cared for him seemed to get through his wit and banter that was too cruel and honest for me. We always seemed on oposite shifts and though I heard 'Gina this' and 'Gina that', I knew he would be well cared for by her. She showed up at the funeral and said he said that she,(the woman he had only praise for) reminded him of me and I just about fell over. He had only praises for sweetest thing he never said to me". So then the conclusion of the song invites a celebration as time allows.

Song Description

A father and daughter live unconnected and do nothing to heal it believing there will always be more time. Separate lives and difficulty communicating didn't get any better with a cancer diagnosis. Both try to get through with mixed purposes. The daughter wants to mend and say goodbye and the father wants to enjoy every minute of the time left. A nurse who cared for him seemed to get through his wit and banter that was too cruel and honest for the daughter. Glad to have him so well cared for but almost jealous of the kindness he is capable of when he speaks of the nurse the daughter and father still have an impass in communication. In the chapel at the funeral the nurse shows up looking fabulous and says the sweetest things that the daughter had never heard from her father. That the woman he spoke so highly of reminded him of his daughter. "It was the sweetest thing he never said to me." In conclusion the song ends with the recommendation to celebrate while there is still time.

Lyrics

HE NEVER SAID
He never said the sweeter things a daughter wants to hear
But silly slick sarcastic things, so witty, seldom dear
Guess it's just his comfort zone to still perform when we're alone
It's not that he was mean, this bonding's not his scene
It's just he wouldn't say, you know the sweeter things,
He never said to me

All I want to do is break away
What I need I'll find
All we need to do is let it go
All we need is time

But cancer comes on quickly and wakes the sleeping pain
Words are chosen carefully, in awkwardness, in vain
But still he found a champion, a nurse to brave his epigram
Almost jealous I would hear his praises of her cheer
And how she made his day and all the sweeter things
He never said to me
All we need to do is let it go
All we need is time
All that we can do is say good-bye
All we have is now

All he wants to do is celebrate
All he needs is time
All he wants to do is celebrate
All he has is now

At the chapel she was there
A big fur coat and billowed hair
Just as bold as I suspected she would be
Bright smile and glowing eyes and then she
Said the words that echo in my brain
How he said she reminded him of me
His words of her had been so kind,
So tender that my mind can't take it in
It was the sweetest thing .....he never said to me

See, he never said the sweeter things a daughter wants to hear
But silly slick sarcastic things, always witty, seldom dear
Guess it's just his comfort zone to still perform when we're alone
Almost jealous I would hear
His praises of her cheer
And how she made his day
It was the sweetest thing .....he never said to me

All I want to do is celebrate
All I need is time
All I want to do is celebrate
Like all I have is now

All that we can do is celebrate
All we need is time
All we have to do is understand
All we have is now (2X)