Today I strike out on my own    The dog is dead. The kids have grown    I fell asleep in my writing chair    I drempt I'd found my childhood stare    To family dinner Christmas night    We'd cross the river shipyard lights    Before the heartbreak and unknown    Today I strike out on my own       Chorus    ----------    Hi-diddely-o, didn't ya know?    You fade once you glow    Didn't ya know, child?    After the ryhme, high time    diddely-o, didn't you know?    You fade once you glow.    Didn't ya known, child?    After the ryhme, high time.       The families gather but we're all    Mere Shadows in this Banquet Hall    I'm beggin mom will you understand    I'm beggin dad will you hold her hand    To play outside was all i'd known    And Christmas lights on every home       Chorus       We find the people of our dreams    We find that they're not what they seem    I've learned that people come and go    I've learned that families break and grow    Toy soldiers brave away those tears    Toy soldiers hope for better years    Today I strike out on my own    The dog is dead. We kids have grown.       Chorus