Don't Ask Your Love to Choose
By Eileen Quinn

He says come on mother
our children are grown
it's time we were living
the life of our own
and she knows with that boat
he's like a dog with a bone
she looks at the sea
and her heart sinks like a stone

life is a compromise
love's not a test
don't ask your love to choose
what he loves best

she's a little unsure
but willing to try
now she's packing her memories
away with a sigh
 and they're casting off docklines
waving goodbye
he tries not to notice
the tear in her eye

life is a compromise…

sailing on slowly
from place to place
he loves the sea
and the wide open space
and he's thinking he's lucky
he checked out of the race
she's thinking her grandchildren won't know her face

life is a compromise…

now they've been out there three years
when he says to her I'm having the time of my life
feel like I'm in my prime
but to her it still feels
like an uphill climb
seems like she's saying
goodbye all the time

life is a compromise…

then she says to him one day
you know I've done what I can
but I miss my family
and my friends and
it's time we swallowed the hook
what do you say old man?
he's sad and he's silent
but he's turning for land

life is a compromise…
don't ask your love to choose
what she loves best

back a year and seen grandkids
maybe three times or four
she's a little surprised
to find her days are a bore
and her wonderful garden
is nothing but a chore
he laughs when she says
let's go cruising once more

life is a compromise
you're lucky if your love
loves what you love best