Shortest Path To Heaven

This song is not just a song
It's a tribute to those, who are only with us a brief time
And a tribute to the parents left wondering why
The reason these tragedies happen might simply be to show us
How short life is for everyone
And appreciate more fully this gift called the present

You'd beat me there, before the bell rang, every school day
In your blue lettered jacket leaned against my locker door
A steady style, ready smile, and the right words to say
When life would get me down you'd lift me up and give me more to live for

So what a sad twist of fate, when one friday of our
Junior year, your mom called me in tears (late that night)
Said you'd hugged her good-bye
You said I love you as you held on like
You knew somehow it'd be the last time (and all I could think of was)

Oh, my dear friend take the shortest path to Heaven
There's no doubt I'll be, seeing you someday in Heaven

Oh! I bet you're thinking, smiling down, through a golden glass floor
How your jaw-dropping songs, left us so speechless
All your grades were B's and A's, you could play any sport
Coulda rocked the stage or charted rockets to the outer reaches

So when all our friends heard, no one could find one word left to say
Shocked that you'd passed away (just fifteen)
When that wreck stole your life, some asked themselves why
But we all cried and bid godspeed to the other side, singing

Oh, my dear friend take the shortest path to Heaven
There's no doubt I'll be, seeing you someday in Heaven

99 or 15, everyone facing time, says life's short, so let those you love know
So I'll show them, leaving no chance for regret, knowing when my time comes
You'll be cheering me on, so when I reach the end of my earthly road (you'll sing)

Oh, my dear friend take the shortest path to Heaven
There's no doubt I'll be, seeing you someday in Heaven
You took the shortest path up to Heaven