[Intro]
I'm a tangled up puppet spinning 'round in knots
And the more I see what used to be the less of you I've got

[Verse 1]
There was a time that you curled up in my lap like a child
You'd cling to me smiling, your eyes wide and wild
Now you slip through my arms, wave a passing hello
Twist away and toss a kiss, laughing as you go

[Verse 2]
You used to say "Read me a story and sing me songs of love"
For you were Princess Paradise on the wings of a dove
Now I chase you and I tease you, trying to remake you my own
But you just turn away and say, "Please leave me alone"

[Chorus]
And I'm a tangled up puppet all hanging in your strings
I'm a butterfly in a spider's web fluttering my wings
And the more that I keep dancing and spinning 'round in knots
The more I see what used to be and the less of you I've got

[Verse 3]
You are a drawer full of make-up and rinses and things
You keep changing your moods like your earrings and rings
But tonight while we played tag for five minutes in the yard
Just for a moment I caught you off-guard
[Chorus]
And I'm a tangled up puppet all hangin' in your strings
I'm a butterfly in a spider's web fluttering my wings
And the more that I keep dancing and spinning 'round in knots
The more I see what used to be and the less of you I've got

[Bridge]
Now you write your secret poems in a room just for your dreams
You don't find time to talk to me about the things you mean
(Tangled, tangled, tangled)
(Tangled, tangled, tangled)
What I mean is—

[Verse 4]
I have watched you take shape from a jumble of parts
And find the grace and form of a fine work of art
Hey, you, my brand new woman, newly come into your own
Don't you know that you don't need to grow up all alone?