They say you must turn over a new page
Dance a new dance, sing a new song
They say that to leave in the past what you've done
You must forgive, forget, and move on

But the things I've seen in this long year past
As painful as they may be
Are not ones I'm likely to leave behind
Rather, I'll take them with me.

It may be the beginning of a new year
Free from mistakes and fears
But as painful as old memories may be
I'll take them along with me.

My heart still aches from the previous year
My eyes can't forget what they've seen
My hands still tremble when I think of things
That were, that are, that have been

But no matter the pain of the long year past
And the waking dreams I see
They're much too precious to leave behind
And so I'll take them with me.

It may be the dawn of a clear new day
It may seem like the only way
But as painful as old memories may be
I'll take them along with me.