The Riverbank

Album: Stranger to Stranger (2016)
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  • Frightened by the tone of a phone in the dead of night
    Then staring into darkness and praying till the morning light
    The price already paid
    A son gone to the grave
    Now the sorrowful parade to the riverbank

    Must be half the county come down to the riverbank
    High school is closed, same for the local police
    Shall we tearfully embrace?
    Shall we sing "Amazing Grace?"
    Will the shallow river waters bring us peace?

    Army dude, only son, nowhere to run
    No one to turn to, he turns to the gun
    It's a cross, it's a stone, it's a fragment of bone
    It's a long walk home

    A long walk home
    Gonna be a long walk home from the riverbank

    Is there any reason why the black pine should not weep?
    Is there a woman or a man who wouldn't understand why he could not sleep?
    And the nightmares when they came
    Like poison to the brain
    Reminded him again
    Life is cheap

    Army dude, only son, nowhere to run
    No one to turn to, he turns to the gun
    It's a cross, it's a stone, it's a fragment of bone
    It's a long walk home

    A long walk home
    Gonna be a long walk home from the riverbank

    Army dude's mama
    At the edge of the river
    Limp as a rag, American flag in her arms
    Then a triangle of light
    Kissed the red and blue and white
    Along the riverbank
    Past the dealerships and farms

    Army dude, only son

    'Gon be a Writer/s: PAUL SIMON
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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