Dale Petley: THIS RIVER TOWN

Here's another new one.

THIS RIVER TOWN

There is something that I see in everybody from a distance

That reminds me just a little bit of you

It isn’t what they’re wearing or the stuff that they have with them

Or even in the things they say or do

It’s more of an impression, or perhaps it’s something deeper

Or it could just be you’re always on my mind

It’s true that I’ve been thinking of you every waking hour

Since the day you left this river town behind.

You were headed for New York as I recall or maybe Dallas

At the time it seemed your plans were rather vague

You said something about Europe and about the need to travel

It was right around the time I broke my leg

So I spent the winter drinking and re-reading all your postcards

And I knew that I had my own path to find

But there’s never been a day I didn’t wish that you were with me

Since the day you left this river town behind

Well I lived in a big city for a while and really liked it

But I always knew I’d head for home some day

I knew that I’d return to hear the music of the river

And let her rapids carry me away

And I hope that you know happiness wherever you are living

And found whatever you needed to find

Or maybe you’ve been moving on just like the running water

Since the day you left this river town behind

Dale Petley