By David, UK

Audio by Matt Jackson Gill

One day a stranger came into our house
He sat for a while as quiet as a mouse

After a while when he had seen quite enough
He introduced himself to Sophie on a day that was rough.
He promised calm with a voice so mild.
That would have relaxed the most stressed out child

He whispered “I won’t ask for much to help you right out”
And once you have done it there will be nothing to worry about.
There is just one small thing that I want you to do
It’s easy and will only take you a second or two
Just check in the mirror that your hair is just right
Once you have done it you will feel happy and light.

One day a stranger came into our house
He sat for a while as quiet as a mouse

He guaranteed to take any worry away
For a few minutes of time no worry will stay.
Just check these five things and make sure that they’re right
Once you have done them you will feel happy and light.

Months went by and the once welcome stranger
Made it his mission to keep Sophie from danger
For just a few hours of time we will keep worries at bay
Just wash this, check that and walk through that room in this special way

One day a stranger came into our house
He sat for a while as quiet as a mouse

By now we had met him and we wanted him to leave
But he was a bullying, unwelcome guest with a thousand tricks up his sleeve
Sophie now knew he had no invitation
He barged into our lives and caused untold frustration.

His impossible demands spiralled out of control it took the whole day to answer his call
There was no time left this bully took it all
We awoke and couldn’t find her we looked all around
But Sophie had gone she was nowhere to be found

One day a stranger came into our house
He sat for a while as quiet as a mouse

We gathered our strength and started to fight
This nasty evil monster who loved to bite.
It took a long time to battle him back
Some days he won and we changed our tack

We never gave in, we never relented
To get Sophie back we tried things that we had never attempted
We showed her that over worries she was in charge
And the horrible thoughts were not so large

One day a stranger came into our house
He sat for a while as quiet as a mouse

A few years later the good times came back
The stranger long gone all his tricks he did pack
Now to be calm no checking is needed
Now to relax no commands to be heeded

The sunlight streamed in and confidence grew
Whenever worries started to brew
Sophie used her own will and gathered her might
These were the things that made her feel happy and light

One day a stranger came into our house
He sat for a while as quiet as a mouse