The River [1968]

Written by: 
J. Martyn
1 Oct 1968

Waking up and finding she's not there;
Sleepy looking around to find out where I am.
Get out of bed, go trippping down the stairs,
And before you eat your breakfast, say your prayers.
And the early morning pigeons fly around,
Getting startled on my lonely-footed sound.
And yesterday's newspaper is flying too;
Whirling down the wind that I once knew...

And the red and yellow birds come drifting by,
Reflecting in themselves the windy sky.
And you walk along beside them in a dream,
And you wonder where they're going and where they've been.
And the river's smiling bravely through the rain;
Thinks everything is really just the same.
And the rain comes down, and wets the curly hair
Of the children playing where your memories were...

First release: