Holding On

I remember those golden years
coming up from Saskatoon
Staying up way too late
singing those old country tunes
I can still hear the way you sang
my neck, you put your arms around
Echos of your voice in the room
an elegant and simple sound
And I'd look into your eyes
as we'd sing in harmony
Everything together
as happy as I could be
You and I, we worked well together
people said we made a great team
You always held me so tightly
with a firm and loving squeeze
But as years, they take a toll
And affection alone - it doesn't stand
So when your grip started to loosen
I knew it was the beginning of the end
When I held you in my hands
I could feel you letting go
All those years together
a life carved in my soul
You didn't have to say a word
your silence spoke louder than the song
When in the day you fell away
at night I knew it was wrong
You wouldn't even look me in the eye
and you left without a single word
The silence, it cut me like a knife
an echo of your footsteps on the floor
All that you could give
was your gentle loving touch
So when you broke my trust
that feeling - it wasn't enough
I've been pushing on forward
I hope that you've been doing the same
You're the faint ringing in my ears
the hurt's now starting to fade
Sometimes I still feel you holding on
as memory will ebb and flow
A lesson learned in loving
and holding on too tight to let go