Paul Simon - The Riverbank lyrics

Frightened by the tone of a phone
In the dead of night
Then staring into darkness and praying
Till the morning light
The price already paid
A son gone to the grave
Now the sorrowful parade to the riverbank

Must be half the county come
Down to the riverbank high school is closed
Same for the local police
Shall we tearfully embrace
Shall we sing "Amazing Grace"
Will the shallow river waters bring us peace?

Army dude, only son, nowhere to run
No one to turn to, he turns to the gun
It’s a cross, it’s a stone
It’s a fragment of bone
It’s a long walk home a long walk home
Gonna be a long walk home from the riverbank

Is there any reason why the
Black pine should not weep
Is there a woman or a man who
Wouldn’t understand why he could not sleep?
And the nightmares when they came
Like poison to the brain
Reminded him again life is cheap

Army dude, only son, nowhere to run
No one to turn to, he turns to the gun
It’s a cross, it’s a stone
It’s a fragment of bone
It’s a long walk home a long walk home
Gonna be a long walk home from the riverbank

Army dude’s mama at the edge of the river
Limp as a rag, American flag in her arms
Then a triangle of light kissed the
Red and blue and white along the riverbank
Past the dealerships and farms