by Eric Anderson

July 26, 2022

[Verse 1]

First one leads, then one follows
One aids, and one seeks aid.
In the story of friendship
You and I have made.
But you’ve taken the lead this season
And I cannot keep pace
To the banks of the River Jordan,
To your crossing place.

[Chorus 1]

There’s a time for work and progress,
There’s a time for rest and play,
But this time to say farewell to you:
I’d have asked for a later day.

[Verse 2]

We shared in joys and sorrows.
We put our hands to the plow.
There were times of heartfelt sharing:
May they comfort us now.
As you walk to the bank of Jordan,
As you near your crossing time,
My tears flow with reason,
My grief has so many rhymes.

[Chorus 2]

There’s a time to plant and nourish,
There’s a time to harvest and store,
But I’m lost in this time of farewell.
I’d have asked for a little time more.

[Verse 3]

Bright days and thunder sounding,
Our minds at work to shape words
Telling others’ stories as sweetly
As ever a story was heard.
As you make your crossing of Jordan,
Don’t linger, my friend, for me.
You can lay aside life’s burden.
In the crossing, my friend, you’re free.

You can lay aside life’s burden.
In the crossing, be free.

[Chorus 3]

There’s a time to live and to flourish,
There’s a time to shed life’s shell.
Though I could have asked for later, my friend:
Aloha o’e – fare well.

Though I could have asked for later, my friend:

Aloha o’e – fare well.

© 2022 by Eric Anderson