If I Could   I'd protect you from the sadness in your eyes   Give you courage in a world of compromise   Yes I would   If I could   I would teach you all the things I've never learned   And I'd help you cross the bridges that I've burned   Yes I would   If I could   I would try to shield your innocence from time   But the part of life I gave you isn't mine   I've watched you grow   So I could let you go   If I could   I would help you make it through the hungry years   But I know that I can never cry your tears   But I would   If I could   If I live in a time and place where you don't want to be   You don't have to walk along this road with me   My yesterday won't have to be your way   If I knew   How I'd try to change the world I brought you to   And there isn't very much that I can do   But I would   If I could   If I could   I would try to shield your innocence from time   But that part of life I gave you isn't mine   I watched you grow so I could let you go   If, if I could   I would help you make it through those hungry years   But I know that I can never cry your tears   But I would   If I could   Yes I would   Yes I would   If I could.