About country music, the songs can pull your heartstrings like no other.

I was just in the kitchen sitting on the floor weeping while Avery sat, completely engrossed in one of her favorite activities: removing, stacking, and knocking over the water bottles that live in the cabinet by the fridge. This activity is repeated over and over again, the best times being when she maanges to scatter them all over the kitchen floor, which, being in a 115 year old home, is slanted. I’m sure you can imagine the fun.

The little radio on the windowsill was set to a country music station. I’d not been listening to the music as is often the case, setting it more for the girls’ benefit. All of a sudden a melody and syrupy voice were swirling about in my head, it was a man singing what sounded like the words stealing Cinderella. I was intrigued, so I quickly helped Avery restack the bottles in the kitchen and craned my ear toward the radio. Try as I might I couldn’t quite make out the words beyond: riding her first bike something, something, something stealing Cinderella. Despite not understanding it, my eyes welled and a lump flickered in my throat. Avery hopped up, bored with the bottles, and ran after the dog.

I moved to the computer and typed in “Stealing Cinderella.” Here it is, in all its tear inducing glory.

*Beware to pregnant women and parents of daughters, I don’t think this can be read without weeping.


I came to see her daddy for sit down man to man
It wasn’t any secret i’d be asking for her hand
I guess that’s why he left me waiting in the living room by myself
with at least a dozen pictures of her sitting on a shelf

She was playing Cinderella
She was riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes i’m Prince Charming
But to him i’m just some fella
riding in and stealing Cinderella

I leaned in towards those pictures to get a better look at one
When I heard a voice behind me say “Now, ain’t she something, son?”
I said “Yes, she quite a woman” and he just stared at me
Then I realized that in his eyes she would always be

Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes i’m Prince Charming
But to him i’m just some fella riding in and stealing Cinderella

He slapped me on the shoulder
Then he called her in the room
When she threw her arms around him
That’s when I could see it too

She was Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
If he gives me a hard time
I can’t blame the fella
I’m the one who’s stealing Cinderella