Decision

I'm telling the story of your demise
And how it felt when we said good-bye
The undertaker said, "You have to decide"
The damage from the truck he'd try to hide

Ashes and ashes and dust to dust
You will go, we'll adjust
Ashes and ashes and dust to dust
You'll return when we burn

My mother called to tell me early that Saturday morning
But what she said I could not comprehend
I reached out to your husband and listened to what he told me
And I heard for the second time that you had met your end

'Cuz hearing is believing and believing is knowing
And once you know there's no going back

My father still hoped that there'd been a mistake
That somehow you were elsewhere and just typically late
But then he saw your photo on the evening news
And that's when he realized it was true

'Cuz seeing is believing and believing is knowing
And once you know there's no going back

We crowded into his apartment
Waiting for you to be transported and prepared
Days spent waiting
And wishing that you were there

Was the last time I'd seen you the last time I'd see you
If I'd known then I would have made it last

The day is nearly over, it's getting dark and snowy
Each of us alone in that great big empty space
We didn't want to keep them late at the funeral parlor
But we also weren't ready to let you go away

Ashes and ashes and dust to dust
You will go, we'll adjust
Ashes and ashes and dust to dust
You'll return when we burn

You lay with your face half-covered
So quiet and so still
Jeremy thought of Catullus
"I salute you and farewell"

Then Joanne reached her hand out and took your hand in hers
And I wish I'd had the guts to do the same

'Cuz feeling is believing and believing is knowing
And what is known cannot be undone
Yeah, seeing is believing and believing is knowing
And what we've seen cannot be unsung

The undertaker said, "You have to decide"
The damage from the truck he'd try to hide
So one by one we decided to see you
And that's how we came to understand good-bye