What if she had a mommy to hold her
had a daddy to love her
A warm place to sleep and clean water?
What if he knew how to keep his temper?
Wouldn't be in a juvi center guilty of losing his pride
What if the world had never heard of cancer?
She would have been a ballet dancer
Could've brought the stage to life
Could've brought the stage to life

What if for once he came home sober?
Swore to God it'd be over, she wouldn't have to hide
What if he was born to be a performer
Instead of selling rock on the corner?
Guess we'll never know
What if she was meant to be an actress?
She sure had a lot of practice
Gripping the pole to get by
Gripping the pole to get by

Why do we wait when it's too late?
Destiny doesn't have to be fate
Could've given you my hand, 'stead of watching you land
Caught you before the free fall began
What if there's a way to rise from the pain
Rewind the time, restart the world
Past the point of no return?

What if he could've waited a little longer
could've been a little stronger
Found a way to make it through the night?
What if she had a chance to go to college?
Instead of living with the knowledge?
She could've done more with her life
What if he didn't try to impress her
drive that little bit faster?
Racing to the end of his life?
What if he didn't care about skin color?
The man he killed could've been his brother
Now he's doing twenty to life
Why?

Why do we wait when it's too late?
Destiny doesn't have to be fate
Could've given you my hand, 'stead of watching you land
Caught you before the free fall began
What if there's a way to rise from the pain
Rewind the time, restart the world
Past the point of no return?

What if she had a mommy to hold her
and a daddy to love her?