String

You’ll stand there by the mirror,

Peach strings high upon your hips,

Turning left and turning right,

Biting down on nervous lips.

You’ll look back at me and whisper,

“Daddy, this is barely there.”

I’ll smile and say, “Come here, my queen,

You’ve got nothing left to fear.”

You’ll worry ’bout the little things,

What might show and who might see,

I’ll tell you, “Baby, leave it all,

You’re perfect just as you should be.”

Not polished, posed or made-up,

Not trying to fit some scene,

Just soft and wild and beautiful,

My gorgeous little queen.

Walk with me, my beautiful queen,

Let the whole damn world disappear,

Tiny pink strings, nervous grin,

Come a little closer here.

You don’t have to prove a thing,

You don’t owe nobody a scene,

But if you choose to take my hand,

Walk proud beside your king.

Good girl, lift your head up,

Let that pretty smile be seen,

Walk with me, my brave girl,

My beautiful, sexy queen.

Then we’ll hit that city shoreline,

Packed from waterline to street,

Hundreds talking, laughing, walking,

Summer burning underneath.

You’ll grip my hand and whisper,

“King, there’s people everywhere.”

Then glance down at that little bikini,

Like it shrunk somewhere back there.

I’ll lean in close and tell you,

“You can change your mind right now.”

Because trust ain’t about commanding,

It’s knowing when and knowing how.

You’ll breathe deep, look back at me,

That cheeky smile coming through,

“Anything for you, Daddy.”

I’ll whisper, “Good girl. Only if you want to.”

Walk with me, my beautiful queen,

Let the whole damn world disappear,

Tiny pink strings, nervous grin,

Come a little closer here.

You don’t have to prove a thing,

You don’t owe nobody a scene,

But if you choose to take my hand,

Walk proud beside your king.

Good girl, lift your head up,

Let that pretty smile be seen,

Walk with me, my brave girl,

My beautiful, sexy queen.

Then somewhere between the towels and tide,

You’ll stop checking who might stare,

Stop fixing every little string,

Stop worrying what is there.

And there it is—that smile I love,

Big enough to light the sea,

Not because they’re looking, baby—

Because you finally feel what I see.

Walk ahead, my beautiful queen,

Hair dancing wild and free,

Turn around and catch me staring,

“Daddy, quit looking at me.”

I’ll laugh and say, “Not a chance, girl,

You’re the prettiest thing I’ve seen.”

My good girl, my wild girl,

My proud little beach queen.

Let a thousand people fill that shore,

They won’t mean a thing to me—

All I’ll see is my beautiful girl,

My beautiful, sexy queen.