From the recording Wise Woman
I wrote "Wise Woman" for my mother, Nancy Wolcott. It was inspired by a older woman that I spoke to briefly a few years after my mother passed away in 2008. She looked A LOT like my mom. She had attended a performance of mine and afterwards, in the lobby, said the kindest words to me. This woman seemed so familiar. So gentle, loving. wise and very comforting. I tried to find her again in the lobby of the theatre to say goodbye but she had vanished. Now my mother and I had a complicated relationship for most of our life. We became closer as we got older but I felt we had lost a lot of time in the confusion of life. This woman's visit seemed to be a message from my mother that all was well. We can both rest now.
Lyrics
I was touched by an angel
who gave me hope
I was found by the sound of her
gentle hello
Her white hair and black sweater
reminded me so
Of a wise woman who brought me into
this life long ago
to this life long ago
She had the eyes of a wise woman
Who knew so much more
Than she dared to reveal in her
darkest years of
this wide wild world
She had the eyes of a wise woman
Who had yet to see
All the love in her heart it’s what kept us apart in this wide wild world…in this world
I still remember
my mother’s last breath
And her blue eyes so peaceful
in this life and in death
We'd been robbed of our friendship
when I was so very young
All these questions unanswered
and my life had just begun
Yes my life had just begun
Now thru the eyes of this wise woman
I could clearly see
What was meant to be
after years at sea in this
Wide wild world…
Now through the eyes of this wise woman
I can be so much more
Than I was before
Its what waits in store in this
Wild wild world…in this world
Out of a crowd she appeared
and we spoke for awhile
I was positive we had met before
and I knew that smile
I said "God you’re so beautiful"
she said "me oh dear you jest
I am just an old woman
who’s time is coming and I need my rest
Yes I need my rest
But through the eyes of this wise woman
I could clearly see
All the love in her heart
it’s what kept us apart in this
Wide, wild world
Now through the eyes of this wise woman
I am finally at peace
No more restless nights wondering what if or why in this
Wide, wild world…. in this world