Absent Friends

Do you remember Ronnie Parker?
Who at school was such a card
When we all played so carefree
Out in the old school yard
I’ve looked around those gathered 
And I don’t see him here today
Was he the one 
I heard old Joe say
Last year just passed away.

(Chorus)
And the mood became quite sober
As we vowed to make amends
That through the year we’d catch up
With all our absent friends.

Did we become complacent
Because new friendships grew
Were we forgetting old acquaintances
All those that we once new
With the whole world at your feet
So many scattered far and wide
Think of all those absent souls
No longer by our side.

(chorus)
And so we charged our glasses
While leaving no loose ends
And heartedly we drank a toast
Regaling absent friends.

What become of all those friendships
The pals that once were mine
Who drifted far apart from us
Across the sands of time
Sometimes you hear a story
Or see something posted on line
But it’s a kind of an empty feeling
Not to see them one more time.

(Chorus)
And so before we parted
Whatever fate portends
We raised our glasses one more time
The toast was absent friends.

Now the world has turned full circle
Many years have passed on by
Before they called together
That old class of fifty nine
And although the night was merry
For all those who still remained
No one failed to notice
Empty places all the same.

(Chorus)
And so we raised our glasses
For those who no longer attend
Our toast was just in memory
Gone now absent friends.

(instrumental outro)
Gone now absent friends.

Rodd Sherwin
to a composition by
Jeremy Williams