Words & Music: Nigel Cameron

There are turtles in the river

by the park where the children play

And on a statue of a turtle

sits one little girl today

From her multi-coloured island

she can watch as the world goes by

Like the resting river turtles,

there seems to be a tear in her eye

She doesn’t feel like playing

since her mama told her the good news

That her sister’s daddy’s coming

to town and he’ll be here soon

Trying to understand but still

she’s feeling a little confused

Wishing sister’s daddy

could be her daddy too.

He could be my daddy, he could be my daddy

He could be my daddy ‘cos my daddy’s not around

No-one ever told her why her daddy went away

Or why he’s never been around even for a day

Sister’s eyes sparkle now that her daddy’s here for a while

But Turtle’s eyes sparkle with tears for she’s not his child

Could he not be her daddy in spite of all that she’s been told

It’s hard to understand when you’re only four years old

You could be my daddy, you could be my daddy

You could be my daddy ‘cos my daddy’s not around

When my life seems upside down,

You’d pick me up turn me around

When I just can’t understand

And I need someone to hold my hand

You could be my daddy ‘cos my daddy’s not around

When my life seems upside down,

You’d put my feet back on the ground

You could be my daddy ‘cos my daddy’s not around

Won’t you be my daddy ‘till my daddy comes to town

Now she’s got someone to cling to, someone to hold

She’s feeling warm and protected from the cold

Now she’s got someone to listen, someone who hears

It seems like he understands her Turtle tears.

There are turtles in the river by the park where the children play

And on a statue of a turtle sits one little girl today