We were in the same lesson
And i don't know if you knew
I'd sit at the back of our old classroom
Watching the way the sun shone
Straight through your hair
And the way his hand held yours
I'd whisper this life is so unfair
Did you not notice the way
My hand shook when i picked up those books that your dropped
Thinking you did that on purpose
Just to make me stop
But those days seem so long ago now
And all i remember is

Old papers and school books
Your name calved in some tree's
My god please take me back
To nineteen sixty three

And i found you one day
Please tell me you atleast remember that
You were sitting with your hair messed up
Looking beautiful on the grass
But your face wasn't a happy one
So i sat beside you
All i remember of that day my love
Was the smell of your perfume
Rendering me quite simply
Unable to move
Do you remember i held out my hand
But thought you'd push it back
Instead you placed it on the space between your pretty cotton skirt
And your feet rested on the grass
Those days seem so long ago now
And it's easy to forget
But i could never forget you my love
You are always in my head
And those memories of

Old papers and school books
Your name calved in some tree's
My god please take me back
To nineteen sixty three

Then it finally happened one day
I placed all my bets on you
Invested my soul but i had no choice
**** a lovestruck fool
You agreed we could meet that night
Outside the Nevada State Fair
I just knew on my arms would be
The most beautiful girl there
Along to the music we danced
And i held you in my arms
Those lights all around us moved
In this storm you were my calm
The chaos all around us parted
As my hands rolled through your hair
My lips pressed up real tight
Against your ear
In my dreams i've been here before
So many a time
My lovely sweet Louisa, stay with me a while
Then i don't quite know what happened
But those years passed us by
Watched my sister on her wedding day
Such a beautiful bride
And my parents were laid to rest perfectly side by side
Me and Louisa we lost touch
But i still see her face sometimes
When i close my eyes and think of

Old papers and school books
Your name calved in some tree's
My god please take me back
To nineteen sixty three

When were young, remember when
We would laugh and when it rained
We would shelter beneath the covers
Where I could forever examine you

That new thing that i found
I want to explore your every inch
The color of your eyes in the light
And the length of your hair

To me you are what life's all about

And did you know that i loved
Each freckle and scar That's part of you too
Your fingerprints now on my heart
look at us, just me and you

To me you are what life's all about

When the rain stopped falling
You got up to take your leave
I've never seen in the morning
something so beautiful to me
Does it come naturally ?

You standing there, your messy hair
Pre-makeup face, and just my t-shirt on
I daren't blink incase you are suddenly gone
And i never see your face again
Because i don't know what i'd do with myself
Louise i think, i need your help
Because i don't know what i'd do with myself

To me you're what life's all about

I love that dimple just above your lips
I bet you thought i didn't notice
But there's not one part of you that i've missed
Or not loved naturally

Before you stood and took your leave
I gave to you a piece of me
And if you ever find that you have a heart
Then bring it right back to me

Walk along with me
darling leave those thoughts behind
I've had them too you know
And i thought you might like to know
That i've been here a while now
with my ear pressed to the ground
I've had my eyes wide open
Been looking all around this town
for you

Look at the way
The way your eyes smile at me
Saying something like you want to
But there's still uncertainty
Looks like you've been hurt before
Well darling i've been hurt too
But together we could both try
To figure this thing out
For you

Your auborn hair is flowing now
As the wind brushes through
Your eyes a little greener
In the shadow of the moon
The bronze skin that's showing
Only makes me want you more
Now i remember the days
When my ear was to the floor looking
For you

Don't come closer
For i fear you're just a dream
And wouldn't it be cruel my dear
If you vanished infront of me
But you place your hand upon me
Like some long forgotten prayer
I found peace within myself
When my lips pressed to your ear
Comfort was a wonderful thing
When i finally found
The woman i was looking for
When my ear was pressed to the ground looking
For you

Ancient wood, weathered bricks, the ghost smoke of a thousand burning candles encircles us
The silence amongst a crowded congregation, my silk red tie to represent your love
Tears of joy, tears of sadness, tears for not knowing what the future holds
The doors open, cold she enters, the bell tolls in single chimes 5 seconds apart
But I dare not turn as I know what’s approaching
12 feet march by your side in synchronised harmony escorting you home
The altar where the crucifix was placed upon your head is now where you lay
But the only water today is from those you loved, who loved you
Kind words said, smiles, chorus song, heartache, but no black today please
There you are, inches away but so distant
Eyes closed, deep breath, it’s almost over
The bell still tolls, you are blessed, but we are more so for knowing you
And you are removed from the canopy of this house
Once more into the outside, and we follow, it’s perfectly choreographed
I succumb to the numbness, I know not what between here and there
But there I stand aside the earth which is ready to receive you
6 shadows carry you back to us, place you upon the wood and delicately lower you
You take your final breath of this worlds air as you reach the final place of rest
Only feet left now, and never again will you be above the earth
The bells still toll, the wind beats us, the white cloak of the vicar dances against her
His voice battles, and his defiant tone sends you to your peace
6 shadows stand in salute from the corner of my eye
Roses on the wood, soil from our touch onto you
And we take our leave, it’s over
But it’s only just begun

I sit in a fire lit room
Listening to the sound of grandfather sleep
Every Sunday, with my brother I would walk to church
And hear the choir sing
Walk home down the lanes
Pull flowers, make daisy chains
I’d look up at my mother and smile
She would bend right down on one knee
Pull me close, so there was just her and me
And whisper One day, all of these old people will go
She said it’s just a fact of life
Listen, so one day you too will be wise
Because one day, all of the old people will go

Then I heard the Doctor speak
“There was no pain, now he’s at peace”
From the corner, my grandmother cried
He was all, she’d ever had in her life
I glanced across at my mother and sighed
she, came over to me
Said grandpa passed last night in his sleep
And whispered
Remember, one day all of the old people will go!
all of the old people will go

The black, in mother’s hair turned grey
The blue in her eyes now washed away
I no longer fit on her knee
Those arms that cradled me now frail and weak
What was happening all around me ?
The world was aging at my feet!
She kissed me on the forehead and before she found her peace
Said remember those words I told you
Back when you were young and sweet
And it happened again, and again, and again
One minute I was young and carefree playing with my friends
But then I turned around, and realise I was all alone
And the words echo in my head
One day all the old people will go

Walking through the town I grew up
Cars, where once was cart and horse
Walk on past the church, where mother and grandfather lay
And now it collects my friends too
Every waking day, my bones more tired
and in this world more change
But I don’t know what I’m to do
Sometimes when I’m home all alone
I sit by the fire, amidst the embers glow
And wonder where did all the old people go?
Faded photo’s so their face I still see
In my dreams, they still talk to me
And whisper one day, all the old people will go
All the old people will go

My Brothers obituary lands at my feet
He was born when I was fourteen
Placed it neatly on the side
Stare at myself in the mirror and cried
Pull the black hat from its box
The smell of lily’s fill the air
Pull his shirt to my face, close my eyes and he is here
Open them again but there was nobody there  
And it happens again, and again and again
One minute you’re surrounded by loved ones, family and friends
Gathered in the church yard, still surrounded by loved ones, but all alone
Remembering the fact that one day all of the old people will go!