WHEN I'M GONE Lyrics

When you go

You're remembered for a few days

People speak well of you

A few may shed a tear

Some share an endearing story or two

Maybe you'll get two weeks

If you were a popular soul

After that

Only those closest

Or who were drawn to you

Recall you on your birthdays

Then after a time

They too begin to forget

Your face

Your voice

Your words

Your energy

Eventually

We all fade from memory

And time

When I'm gone

Gather with your friends and family

And any whom share affinity for me

Set a flame to burn and release a bird

As someone reads aloud these words

Light some soft scented candles around

Lay bright and pretty flowers down

And some thoughtful words of your own

I'll be all around you and within you

Wherever you are

Will be my home

When I'm gone

Choose my words carefully

Post them up on the walls

In places where men and women learn

And wherever children play

Not forgetting

Where adults have fun time

And where the children study

May they all read questioningly

And thoughtfully

May they hear within

Ponder and reflect

As you do now

When I'm gone

Know that I too also knew

That I could have done

And should have done much better in life

In success and achievement

In love

As a father

As a son

As a brother

As a human being

Rest assured and find some comfort

In the fact that this truth

Will never be as painful

And disappointing to bear

For you

As it always was for me

In all the places I failed you

And myself

When I'm gone

I like to think of all the women

With whom I've been closely intimate

And shared my sacred energy with

Gathered around together

With children and grandchildren

Recounting stories

And significant moments

Memories of our times together

I like to think each will say

Their encounters with me

Were uniquely special

Like no other they'd ever experienced

At any time with anyone else

And that I wasn't at fault

For not loving them

More than I loved myself

When I'm gone

I hope that my words appeal to you

Teach you and heal you

In ways I'd always aimed for in life

But knew might only be achieved in absence

Often our words are only celebrated

Long after we've vacated

I'd made my peace with that long ago

The living ones won't proclaim to know it

Though history will plainly show it

That mainly the best poet is the dead poet

When I'm gone

Know that all wrongs towards me are forgiven

All transgressions forgotten

That I've taken none of them with me

They were far too heavy for the journey

And unnecessary to bear

Picture me complete

At the dawn of a new sunset

Strolling the shore of my souls favourite place

Smiling to the gentle crashing of waves

As the rough tide calmly rolls away

And welcomes in

A warm close of day