Ringing Down The Years

We met when you were still a girl

In nineteen sixty eight

You wore a white dress and a hat

I touched the hand of fate

Your sweet voice took my breath away

Your smile lit up your face

You still had both feet on the ground

I was out in space

That certain sadness in your eyes

The secret of your smile

I've carried all these memories

Down many's the weary mile

And every time I hear your name

My eyes moist up with tears

As every word you ever sang

Comes ringing down the years.

We sat and talked the whole night long

Of all our rights and wrongs

Of mutual acquaintances

We sang each other's song

You were with me when the morning broke

The birds refused to sing

They knew when they were beaten

They hid beneath their wings.

I was in a Cleveland hotel room

When they telephoned the news

I drowned my sorrow all night long

The Southern Comfort blues

The show went on to great applause

Choking back the tears

As every word you ever sang

Came ringing down the years.

I reached out for the hourglass

To turn it face about

But who knows where the time goes

When your time is running out

I know someday we'll meet again

And I know just what I'll find

You'll have taught the angels how to sing

Georgia - Georgia on my mind.