The Riverbank

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.