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Paul & Sally's Mournful Song

from Closer To The Setting Sun by Andrew Vait

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lyrics

Young Paul Wilson had a bit less to say
And Sally Rowe was not likely to stray
Paul preferred the company of the birds and stones
And Sally was asking for his love
At the church, they prayed down on their knees
And in return Paul got sent overseas

Sally wrote him everyday for two long years
Paul never opened one for superstitious fears
Sally was tossing rocks into that river bed
Paul was talking to that God in his head

And he said…

Could it be, could it be
She is the one for me?
What is love, what is war?
Are they worth fighting for?
Could it be that I don’t know
Exactly what’s beyond the door?
Could it be, tell me Lord
Could it be?

Paul was stationed at the Western line
The enemy was creeping up from behind
Paul was praying on a bed of snow when the
Enemy stabbed him and slit his throat
Sally knew in the moment, she did not say a word
She gave her last letter to the stones and birds

She was tossing rocks into that river bed
Knowing that her young Paul Wilson now was surely dead
Paul was looking down from heaven up above as Sally
Swung from a rope with a note that read “for my love”

And it said…

Could it be, could it be
He is the one for me?
What is love, what is war?
Are they worth dying for?
Could it be that I don’t know
Exactly what’s beyond the door
Could it be, tell me Lord
Could it be?

When at war we grow ourselves thicker skin
For the money or next of kin
Jubilation when our boys come home
When they don’t, we’ll sing this mournful song
Paul and Sally were a match from the start
And they made it ‘til death did they part

credits

from Closer To The Setting Sun, released June 10, 2011
Andrew Vait – acoustic guitar, clarinet, hand noises, kick drum, tambourine
Adam Bruno - trumpet
Naomi Siegel – trombone
Miles Ward – tuba

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Andrew Vait Seattle, Washington

Andrew Vait lives in Seattle, WA and writes far-reaching folk-pop songs.

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