I Thought I Was a Child

Bonnie Raitt · Takin' My Time [1973]

It's such a clever innocence with which you do your sorcery

As if somehow the years just bow and let that young girl go free

I thought I was a child until you turned and smiled

I thought I knew where I was going until I heard your laughter flowing

And came upon the wisdom in your eyes, surprise.



I've spent my whole life running 'round

Chasing songs from town to town

Thinking I'd be free so long as I never let love slow me down

So lonely and so wild until you turned and smiled

By now I should have long been gone

But here I am still looking on

As if I didn't know which way to run.



It's such a clever innocence with which you show myself to me

As if you know how it feels to never be who you wanted to be

I thought I was a child until you turned and smiled

I thought that I was free but I'm just one more prisoner of time

Alone within the boundaries of my mind

I thought I was a child...

I Thought I Was a Child

Recorded in 1973 on Bonnie Raitt's debut album, 'Takin' My Time,' this track stands as a defining moment in her early career. The song captures the raw vulnerability of youth and the confusion of growing up, delivered with Raitt's signature blend of bluesy phrasing and soulful intensity. As a cornerstone of her initial discography, the recording showcases her transition from a session musician to a solo artist capable of conveying deep personal narratives. Its enduring appeal lies in its authentic portrayal of adolescent perspective, establishing Raitt's reputation for emotional honesty that would characterize her subsequent work across decades.