[Nina] In this album there's a picture Of the ladies at Daniela's You can tell it's from the eighties By the volume of their hair There's Usnavi, just a baby 'Eighty-seven, Halloween If it happened on this block, Abuela was there
Every afternoon I came She'd make sure I did my homework She could barely write her name But even so She would stare at the paper And tell me Bueno, let's review Why don't you tell me Everything you know
In this album there's a picture Of Abuela in Havana She is holding a rag doll Unsmiling, black and white I wonder what she's thinking Does she know that she'll be leaving For the city on a cold, dark night? And on the day they ran Did she dream of endless summer? Did her mother have a plan? Or did they just go? Did somebody sit her down and say Claudia, get ready, to leave Behind everything you know? Everything I know What do I know?
In this folder there's a picture From my high school graduation With the program, mint condition And a star beside my name Here's a picture of my parents As I left for California She saved everything we gave her Every little scrap of paper
And our lives are in these boxes While the woman who held us is gone But we go on, we grow, so Hold tight, Abuela, if you're up there I'll make you proud of everything I know! Thank you, for everything I know