Long Goodbye

I heard a story on Bob Edwards Weekend today about “dignified transfer,” the process by which the remains of fallen American soldiers are returned to their families in the States. During one transition between interviews with parents and spouses of some of these soldiers, they played part of a song I’d never heard before. I couldn’t find a YouTube video, but if you’d like to listen to it, Rhapsody will let you play it for free at this page.

This song is both melancholy and hopeful, I think. Just like I am.

I miss you, my sweet girl.

Nothing But a Long Goodbye ~ David Mallett

Some days shine so brightly
Gold dust in a pan
Some days you hold so lightly
They go slippin’ right through your hands

And those of us who are so lucky
Get to grow old before we die
Sometimes it seems this old life
Ain’t nothing but a long goodbye

Falling leaves outside my window
On this October night
I do believe that the last rose of summer
Is fading in fright

And when I see the seasons changing
Brings a tear unto my eye
Sometimes it seems this old life
Ain’t nothing but a long goodbye

Every day people leaving
For someplace far away
Every day people grieving
Over things they didn’t do or say

And in the great big picture
It’s just the twinkle of an eye
Sometimes it seems this old life
Ain’t nothing but a long goodbye