We Will Carry Them Away

Excerpt from the Betty Ford Center Children's Program Annual Report. June 30, 2004

Song for the Children's Program: We Will Carry Them Away

John McAndrew, a talented and caring singer/songwriter, has written a very special song for and about the Children's Program. John was quite touched by his experience of volunteering during a four-day process. This song absolutely captures the essence and reality of the Children's Program.

Hear a sample

We Will Carry Them Away (lyrics)
One by one, tear by tear,
Falling like the rain
One by one, tear by tear,
We will carry them away.

We carry round this bag of stones
Bending from the weight
We carry it all alone,
What's inside, we just won't say.

Children know when
something's wrong
Children feel it must be me.
We help them know
that it's not them
So they can say, "It's not me,
it's not me."

Oh what courage it takes
Oh what a difference it makes
To open up your bag
And throw your stones away.

From our hearts to our eyes
To our fingertips
Each one we let fall
Let's more love come back,
come back in...so

One by one, tear by tear,
Falling like the rain
One by one, tear by tear,
We will carry them away
One by one, tear by tear,
We will carry them away.

written by John McAndrew, © McAndrew Music, 2003