South Bend Soldiers On

You see the mass the trees turn on Colfax avenue
These lonely girls they come out in the fall
With hearts they drag behind them like long black bridal trains
In my age I feel a father to them all

I see more than I need to from my front porch swing
These days pale to old remembered joy
Sometimes when I'm not thinking I fall on my knees and sing
Where is my boy where is my blue eyed boy

This midwest that I love proved little more to him
Than a place you watch grow smaller from a train
If he came back a grown man his eyes would surely swim
To see this place where so much is the same

One God assures our freedom
Two armies keep control
The US for the young ones
Salvation for the weak and old
Keep your burdens from your neighbour
Leave a good name when you're gone
People last but a lifetime
And the south bend soldiers on

Now the widows of last season flirt in the summer shade
Their grieves are torn like bad fruit from the vine
The touches of lost lovers they burn and then they fade
While dreaming never lets go of your mind

Me I look each night at a photo by the bed
And each morning at another sunrise
And if all that we're made off is these ghosts inside our head
Who could blame us for pretending otherwise

One God assures our freedom
Two armies keep control
The US for the young ones
Salvation for the weak and old
Keep your burdens from your neighbour
Leave a good name when you're gone
People last but a lifetime
And the south bend soldiers on