Say Old Playmate

Out the door, cross the creek
Pick-up sticks, and hide & seek
You always turned the other cheek
To meet my childhood kisses

Down the road and up a hill
Tossing pebbles at your windowsill
I never heard a whip-poor-will
Until I watched you listen

Where are you now, grandchildren on your knee
Do they know how they would not let us be
Or do you tell them
To stay away from boys like me

Say old playmate, tell me true
Did it break your heart in two
When childish ways meant me and you
To be cast aside forever

Did you cry or stare straight ahead
Did they have to drag you from your bed
Did you break down like I did
When always changed to never

Where are you now, grandchildren on your knee
Do they know how they would not let us be
Or do you tell them
To stay away from boys like me

Love thy neighbor, I always heard them say
But every sunrise brought another judgment day
And I still walked past your door on my way home from school
Trying so hard to memorize their exceptions to the golden rule

Where are you now, grandchildren on your knee
Do they know how they would not let us be
Or do you tell them
To stay away from boys like me

So they won’t get hurt, and they won’t feel that fall
Or do you tell them that love conquers all