Story Behind The Song
On a fateful Friday morning I signed my wife Denise into hospice as a terminal cancer patient. In a 3 1/2 year fight against ovarian cancer, this was a formal surrender. I've signed for cars, I've signed for houses, but never my wife's life. It was the right thing to do, but the finality was crushing. At 3 AM I woke up and wrote this song.
Song Description
Anyone who has lived with a long-term incurable illness has seen the Sword of Death hanging overhead by a thread. How many times has there been a final breath, a final gathering where you're at the place of honor? The singer is trying to convince himself that he is ready for the loved one's impending death that he has foreseen many times.
| Song Length |
4:17 |
Genre |
Folk - General, Folk - Country |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Heartbreaking |
Language |
English |
Lyrics
It was a time when the living was simple
It was a time when the days were long
Falling in love was as easy as breathing
Cares were few and we were strong
Promises as big as the western sky
Future stretching to the horizon
But clouds have descended over tomorrow
Leaving a slowly setting sun
CHORUS
Now I've been to your funeral at least a hundred times
Tell myself I'm ready at last
To let go and turn you on over
Turn our future into my past
It was a time when the living was simple
It was a time when the days were long
Falling in love was as easy as breathing
Cares were few and we were strong
Dreams were there just for the taking
Limits set by our imagination
Stayed with one till the next one was ready
Never thought we'd reach the final station
repeat CHORUS