William H. Drummond writes

You Taught Me

Somewhere from deep mem’ry’s rivers
Comes a face that’s all smile and bright eyes
And a laugh that sends echoes of shivers
It’s a laugh that will brook no disguise
And the joy that’s alive in that laughter
Is a joy that I find at my core
And I know, although many years after
That you planted it there for evermore

Chorus:
You taught me how to laugh
You taught me how to cry
You taught me how to live
You taught me how to die

And those rivers of mem’ry are swollen
By the tears that flow without restraint
So much pain that my life is near stolen
And regret for my sins makes me faint
But you taught me that pain can bring healing
That we all make mistakes and do wrong
To forgive brings a marvelous feeling
And that what doesn’t kill makes you strong

Chorus:
You taught me how to laugh
You taught me how to cry
You taught me how to live
You taught me how to die

On the river of life we are drifting
With its storms and its eddies and shoals
Hidden traps, waterfalls, sandbars shifting
That prevent us from reaching our goals
But you showed that no matter the weather
Or the obstacles we must evade
That we float on the river together
And to live means to give others aid

Chorus:
You taught me how to laugh
You taught me how to cry
You taught me how to live
You taught me how to die

Now I see in the distance the ocean
And it’s dark and it’s deep and it’s gray
And I feel irresistible motion
And the river gets shorter each day
But I fear not the mystery looming
Nor the end of the river so near
For the joy you have taught me is blooming
And such joy overcomes every fear

Chorus:
You taught me how to laugh
You taught me how to cry
You taught me how to live
You taught me how to die