The lyrics
It was raining at the funeral. Of course it was. Black umbrellas opened over the grass like dark flowers. I kept looking anywhere but the casket. Grief does strange things. It hands you a picture you forgot you had. And suddenly, I was small again. Behind the houses, on that muddy little path, holding my tiny umbrella like it was a miracle. My little roof. My little shield. I thought I was keeping myself dry. I thought I was brave all by myself. Then I turned around. Just once. And there he was. My dad. With the big umbrella over both of us. Bigger than mine. Bigger than I understood. He had been there the whole time, taking the weather I never felt. And all I could say was thank you. Mud on my shoes and a scratch in the sky, little black coat with the rain rushing by. Tiny roof trembling, held up high, I thought I was keeping myself dry. Stone after stone on the old wet ground, little feet moving, no looking around. I had a small little cover and a child’s proud mind, never saw the bigger love walking behind. Oh, the memory shakes, oh, the wind won’t behave, all that rain I never knew was falling first on you. Under the giant umbrella, I’m alive, I’m alive! Under the giant umbrella, your love never died! You were holding back the weather, you were walking by my side. Under the giant umbrella, I’m alive, I’m alive! Now I’m grown where the black coats stand, with a folded-up prayer in my shaking hand. I see that path through the funeral gray, see my father behind me, keeping storm away. He never called it mercy, never called it grace, just walked through the weather at a careful pace. I carried my roof like a secret crown, while his big dark shelter came bending down. Oh, the memory shakes, oh, the sky breaks wide, all that love I never saw was walking by my side. Under the giant umbrella, we’re alive, we’re alive! Under the giant umbrella, your love never died! You were holding back the weather, you were walking by our side. Under the giant umbrella, we’re alive, we’re alive! Little roof. Big shade. Child’s heart. Unafraid. Don’t look down. Turn around. He stayed. He stayed. Hand on the handle. Love in the storm. I was small. I was warm. Still alive. Still alive. Still alive. Still alive. Under the giant umbrella, we’re alive, we’re alive! Under the giant umbrella, your love never died! You were holding back the weather, you were walking by our side. Under the giant umbrella, we’re alive, we’re alive! I thought my little umbrella saved me. But love was holding the bigger one. And maybe God was holding the sky.
