Hi. My first post here. I wrote this song from experiences my wife and I have in our neighborhood. We work with a lot of neglected kids whose parents or guardians don't give adequate love and care. Though the song presents a fictional scenario (a 911 call) and a fictional child (Adelaide), the situations in the song are all too real for children all around us. I'm hoping to use this song in live performances to raise awareness of child neglect and abuse.
https://soundcloud.com/chrisanddebbie-merkling/grownupGROWNUP
911, what’s your emergnecy?
Right at first no one answered me
Then a small voice came on the line and said
“I need a grownup.”
What’s your name?
She said “Adelaide”
Are you hurt?
She said “I’m afraid.”
“Mama’s passed out, and daddy’s gone again
I need a grownup
There’s no food in the fridge and and I’m five years old
And the baby’s crying
Lying there in his crib and the house is cold
And I don’t know what to do
CHORUS
I need someone who knows
How to help me with my clothes
Make my lunch, braid my hair
Show me that they care
Yes there’s big people here
All night long drinking beer
There all passed out in the yard and on the floor
But I need a grownup
Then I asked her for a street address
She tried to read it, she did her best
From some junk mail, but she sobbed and said
“I need a grownup”
Is your momma there? Can you see her breath?
Just stay on the phone, I promise I won’t leave
We’ll be right there, so you just be strong
Like a grownup
Then she said “Sunday school teacher told me
About a friend who never leaves
Maybe there is a prayer I could pray to Him.”
Then she said “Jesus, help me please….”
CHORUS
I need someone who knows
How to help me with my clothes
Make my lunch, braid my hair
Show me that they care
Yes there’s big people here
All night long drinking beer
There all passed out in the yard and on the floor
But I need a grownup
Honey, help is one its way
You’ve been really, really brave
But I need you to hold on a little longer
But before she could reply
Her cell phone signal died
So I prayed “Dear Lord, please make her stronger.”
CHORUS
She needs someone who knows
How to help her with her clothes
And to help her realize
That she’s precious and she’s prized
May the big people there learn to love and learn to care
For there precious daughters and their sons
The unprotected, neglected ones.
They need a grownup
How can they grow up
Without a grownup?