Another Man's Arms

Weddings make me cry...sometimes. Mine didn't. I was too young to have a clue. After nearly 3 decades of wedded bliss, I'm starting to piece together some of the concepts of this deal I agreed to as an almost-adult. When I said "I do", I didn't realize what I had done. The twists and turns, the highs and lows, the joy and sorrow, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat...sounds like a sports commercial.

Then come the milestones we pass along the way- the birth of a child, first day of school, Christmas mornings, inaugural bike ride without training wheels, white-knuckled driving lessons, graduations, goodbyes, playing ukulele for tips in Central Park...Wait! These are all about the kids! Well, there's plenty that center around just Patty and me, like.....umm........thinking.... I'll cover those in another post.

I digress- back to weddings. Tori and Grayson just celebrated their "married one/tenth as long as our folks" anniversary, and Patty and I just returned from my nephew's wedding in Detroit. I wrote a song for both of those occasions, so it seems right to share the one I wrote  for a totally different wedding- my niece's. (Why certain things make sense in my head, I don't know.) Told by Daddy on his daughter's wedding day.

ANOTHER MAN'S ARMS
v
I cried as I held you in my arms
Seems I'd waited for so long
Now a baby girl had come to stay

Through times of joy and times of fear
Daddy's arms would hold you near
But something will change today
c
Like the rising and the setting of the sun
I always knew this day would finally come
When my little girl would find another hand to hold, not mine
She would give away her heart
And I will give her into another man's arms
v
We laughed as I'd swing you in my arms
I'd always catch you when you'd fall
My love for you will never fail

You're still my little girl right now
Dressed in your wedding gown
Like the princess in a fairy tale
c
Like the rising and the setting of the sun
I always prayed a special man would come
To be a shelter for her soul
Their love will build a happy home
She would give away her heart
And I will give her into another man's arms
Bridge
They will love each other as they should
And they'll have all the good things they deserve
I'm trusting God to hold them in His arms
c
Like the rising and the setting of the sun
I always knew this special day would come
When my little girl would find another hand to hold, not mine
She would give away her heart
And I will give her...Today I will give her
Daddy will give her into her husband's arms

Written by: John MacManamy
Copyright: jmacmusic

Sarah and Brad- I'm proud of you both . And Halee and Darrell and Ella!