When I was 5, I put on
my mama’s shoes
and walked around the house.
Daddy told me
“Baby girl, you’ve got big shoes to fill.
Oh so big shoes to fill.”
I thought he was talking about my feet.
When I was 8, I put on
my mama’s shoes
and walked around the yard.
Daddy told me
“Little girl, you’re gonna fill those shoes someday.
Someday you’ll fill those big shoes.”
I was determined that someday I’d have big enough feet.
When I was 11,  I put on
my mama’s shoes,
and walked into town with my friends
but before I left,
Daddy told me
“Girl, you’re almost fittin those shoes.
Almost almost fitting those shoes.
Someday those shoes will be yours.
I loved those shoes, and was wanting them to be mine someday.
When I was 15, I put on
my mama’s shoes,
and went to homecoming.
As my date came to take me to the ball,
Daddy said,
“Beautiful girl, those shoes fit you now.
Woman, you’ve grown to fill those big shoes
you once tried to fit.”
The next day,
mama didn’t wake up.
I became the baby girl I once was again,
and I cried and cried into daddy’s shoulder.
he told me
“Baby girl, you’ve got big shoes to fill, and now’s your time.
Now’s your time to fill them.
I believe in you, baby girl, I believe.
Go on and make your mother proud.”
and with that, he pushed me into the world and set me free.
I flew away that day,
Flew away to fill those big shoes.