Escape Artist

I stomped in rain puddles
In my bathing suit
While mother watched from the living room window
Windows that didn't quite shut tight and the wind blew in
I purposefully fell out of the backyard tree
Landing just right so I wouldn't break an arm, leg or knee
Mother world come running every time, without fail
She was dependable like that
I brought a snake in from the garden
I thought my neighbors jigsaw puzzles were the best
I fed my turtles roly-polys from our yard
It would seem I had a happy childhood

But I was a escape artist
I would escape into myself
Over and over
Until I didn't know myself
And I had other names for myself
So I could forget my brother did

I went away to college
I got to study horses and art, every girls dream
I could have pancakes for every meal
wake up late and stay out all night
Every teens wish come true
I went to the movies every week without fail
Even though some were really bad
I daydreamed about girls and on the nighttime dated boys
I learned to drive a stick shift
Instead of an automatic
I got invited to parties
Loud music, bins of unknown drinks overflowing
I went camping with all the boys and bowling when they were hung over
It would seem I had a happy college life

But I was a escape artist
I would escape into myself
Over and over
Until I didn't know myself
And I had other names for myself
So I could forget what happened that weekend

I got a job and laughed all day with little kids
They were my world
I made them lesson plans and taught them Spanish colors
I gave them all I had to offer
Art and science and cooking experiments
I was the photographer, the Easter bunny and the nurse when things went wrong
We sang songs my mother taught me
A different way to say the abc's
Silly words and childhood books
Paintings on the wall
It would seem I had a nice job with nothing to worry about

But I was a escape artist
I would escape into myself
Over and over
Until I didn't know myself
And I had other names for myself
So I could forget what the world took from me

This is how I lived my life
Beautiful on the outside
Torn apart in the inside

I would escape into myself
Over and over
Until I didn't know myself
And I had other names for myself
So I could forget everything