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The River Medway has always
been a source of inspiration to me. It's
constantly changing tidal state, and the
fact that it is a 'living' river. I never
get board of watching and noticing how
different the weather conditions and seasons
change its appearance and colouring.
I have travelled on it,
explored it, I still fish regularly in it
and I have nearly drowned in it once! I just
escaped its clutches, and I am a strong
swimmer!
I wrote Alone By The River
after I went for a walk one winter's
morning. I came across a man looking tired,
weary and dejected, from what I assumed he
was a down and out - but looked harmless
enough - he was drinking some sort of bottle
of spirit out of a brown bag. For some
reason I was felt compelled to talk to him
and sat down beside him looking out across
the river.
He sounded intelligent,
well educated, and of sound mind, although
his speech was very slurred.
He told me his story,
openly I don't know why he talked so much
but was so interested in what he was saying
and pleased he did. All I have done is
re-jigged the words of our conversation and
added some chords, this is one of my
favourite songs that we perform live, and I
have received many nice comments about the
song.
ALONE BY THE RIVER
In the
cold wind you were sitting
All alone by our river
Watching grey clouds over our heads
The western wind it was chilling
(Chorus...)
You pass me a brown bag
Have a drink you say friend
Makes you feel so much braver
Keeps the chilling from your bone
I ask how
long have you been here
You shrug you're head and say your nor sure
But your hair was wet and matted
Must have been a week a year…
Chorus...
I
ask have you a place to go now
You shrug your head and say you're not sure
I say you really must try sleeping
You're about to drop down to the floor…
Chorus...
I sat for
hours and just listened
About the business you once had
About the family who disowned you
And how they only see the bad…
Chorus...
I sat for
hours and just listened
Then the rain it started pouring
I realised it was three in the morning
The Medway tide had been and gone now
Exposing Medway's finest ruins…
Chorus - to end
You pass me a brown bag
Have a drink you say friend
Makes you feel so much braver
Keeps the chilling from your bones
I left you there, by the river,
I left you there,
by our river
All alone,
by our river..
Well I left you there…..
Lyrics
written by Paul Johnson
Copyright ©
TCHY 2005
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