[Verse 1]
I was only nineteen
The morning you were born
With your hair fine and red
And your eyes like my own
Barely a woman
With only a song
I sang to make you smile
And held you all night long

[Verse 2]
Home through the streets
With you in my arms
Cold winter mornings
In a Colorado town
I've seen you stumble
You've watched me fall
You know I've got nothing
You know we've got it all

[Chorus]
Trucks roll by and the rain coming down
Does that old parka keep you dry?
Sixteen years old out on the road
Trying to get to the sky
[Verse 3]
Back in September
You called me on the phone
"Ma, you know I love you
But I gotta be own my own
Comes a time in a boy's life
When he's gotta be a man
Please don't try to find me
Please try to understand"

[Verse 4]
Now he's playing guitar
In a rock and roll band
Looking like a baby
Talking like a man
The life of a guitar man
Is a hard life to lead
What can I tell you?
You were born to the breed

[Chorus]
Rain comes down, the trucks rolling by
I that old poncho gonna keep you dry?
Sixteen years old, January child
Trying to get to the sky
[Verse 5]
I've watched you growing
Through all these years
I've seen you stumble
You've watched my tears
Sometimes there was roses
Sometimes there was thorns
But I know you're gonna make it
As sure as you were born

[Outro]
And I hope from what you wanted
You get what you need
I know you're gonna make it
You were born to the breed
Sixteen years old, January child
Trying to get to the sky