Same River

02 Same River
(Jim Stanard)

Just saw her at that boatmen’s bar
beside the river bank
where 20 years ago
we sat together there and drank
She’d hardly changed a bit
‘cept her left hand now was bare
I wanted to go over
but I just stood there and stared

Love flowed gently like that river
through those early years
but we hit some rocky rapids
she became a mutineer
We parted on a stormy night
with the current moving fast
In this world of changes
I guess we weren’t made to last

Though some memories never die
we can’t go back to change our lives
can’t step in the same river twice
Though the river keeps it’s name
the flowin’ water ain’t the same
can’t step in the same river twice
… same river twice

Why she picked that other guy
it left me mystified
Guess, she was still so young
she thought that time was on her side
Trying to forget her
was like paddling upstream
Felt like I got stuck
on a sandbar of old dreams

Though some memories never die
we can’t go back to change our lives
can’t step in the same river twice
Though the river keeps it’s name
The flowin’ water ain’t the same
can’t step in the same river twice
… same river twice

I like to think I ain’t got no regrets
but I lie to myself every day
Let’s just call it stuff I should forget
‘cause tomorrow’s the only thing
I can try to change -- anyway

She saw and waved me over
I asked how her life had gone
she stood silent for a while
either years or moments long
Then she said, “this is hard,
the only thing that’s clear
is we both know there’s no going back,
but let’s get another beer”

Though some memories never die
we can’t go back to change our lives
Can’t step in the same river twice
Though the river keeps it’s name
the flowin’ water ain’t the same
can’t step in the same river twice
…same river twice
…same river twice