Selection Day
[Soft orphanage sounds + distant voices]
[Verse 1]
They came in fancy cars, suits sharp and clean
Powerful people, smiling like they’d seen
The perfect kid they could shape into their dream
I stood up straight, practiced every line
“Hello, hi, I’m Timo”
The words felt heavy on my tongue
Reading was hard when nobody taught you
Writing was harder when you were alone
I shook their hands with everything I had
Tried to look strong, tried to look glad
But they looked right through me, saw the dirt on my skin
Another orphan kid, too rough to take in
Still, I stood there I never stopped believing
[Pre-Chorus]
Morning turned to noon, then afternoon
Nobody stopped; nobody gave me a look a glance
The gate was closing, hope kept slipping away
Then she appeared… just before the dark took
the day away - she came
[Chorus]
Selection Day
I thought I’d be chosen by the bright and the bold
Selection Day
But life had other plans, quiet and cold
She was poor, she was broken, she was in pain
She needed a hand, not a perfect name
Selection Day
I went home with her instead
And it was still the best day.
[Verse 2]
She lost her boy to sickness, said the world was too cruel
She needed someone to help her carry the load
I carried water, I carried wood, I carried her too
For three long years, just me and you
She taught me kindness in the smallest ways
How to hold on even when the sky is gray
But her body was failing, I could see the end
Still I stayed beside her until the very end
[Bridge]
On a day when I thought hope would be lost
I think I got the prayer I wanted the most
I learned how to survive this imperfect world
By standing strong the way she taught me I should
Always stand for what is right
Never to hate and never to fight
Unless the reason was to protect
Always be humble and always respect
I will never forget those words she said
[Solo]
[Pre-Chorus 2]
She held my hand when the pain got too much
Whispered “You’re a good boy, Timo… thank you so much”
Then one quiet morning, she didn’t wake up
And I was alone again… just me and a broken cup
[Chorus]
Selection Day
I thought I’d be chosen by the bright and the bold
Selection Day
But life had other plans, quiet and cold
She gave me a home when no one else would
She gave me love when I thought I never could
Selection Day
I think I was chosen after all
[Outro — soft, reflective]
…Thank you, Ma
And it was still the best day.