"Two faces"

The boy cries every Friday night, afraid to face the dawn
'cause he knows ev'ry Saturday, they visit Uncle John.
John's such a jolly uncle when he's talking on the phone,
but he does things he shouldn't, when he's with the boy alone.

His uncle has two faces -- the little boy is scared
it's hard to fight an enemy who is and isn't there.
He hides out in a secret world until the pain is gone,
but when he grows into a man then he will pass it on.

And there's too many like him, children trapped in fright
living with an adult who hurts them in the night.
And who will save the children from pain they should not bear,
who will open up a heart and show them someone cares?

Her mommy has two faces -- public saint and private witch
the little girl cries nightly 'cause she can't tell which is which.
She's safe when daddy comes home -- unless he's drunk again,
her daddy has two faces too, this little girl can't win.

Her mommy has two faces, one is good and one is bad
it's caused by the two faces that her mommy's daddy had.
And so abuse continues -- the pattern is so strong,
if no one helps the little girl then she will pass it on.

Our new baby's sleeping, so peaceful lying there
soon she'll open up her eyes and suddenly I'm scared
for when she looks at us, how many faces will she see?
for the little boy who cried was you, and the little girl was me.

And there's too many like us, former children of the night
grown up into adults, who still must hide our fright.
We all need a helping hand to know we're not alone,
and know that love can heal a heart if you will pass it on.

c. 1989, B. Riley