Carolina Side

That blue-green river winds through my memory And flows through the childhood of mine I used to swim and skip rocks and climb high on the banks Covered in hemlock and pine The river formed the border between South Carolina And Georgia, all over I would roam But the words of my mother I always remembered And knew how to find my way home She said, "Son, if you're scared and you feel all alone And have nothing to use as a guide Remember you'll find your way home On the Carolina side." No longer a boy but not quite a man She knew I was ready to go Eighteen years of age and moving from home I had my eyes on the road All set to leave, out in the driveway She hugged me with tears in her eyes And told me these words again As she said goodbye "Son, if you're scared and you feel all alone And have nothing to use as a guide Remember you'll find your way home On the Carolina side." It's strange how time passes, the years go by quickly With memories fading away The days of my youth had long since passed My mother had grown old and gray She'd come to the end, knew she was going And I didn't wanna let go So I pulled her close and whispered these words That I knew she'd already know "Mom, if you're scared and you feel all alone And have nothing to use as a guide Remember you'll find your way home On the Carolina side." "Mom, if you're scared and you feel all alone When you're crossing that great river wide Remember you'll find your way home On the Carolina side Remember I'll meet you at home On the Carolina side."