Ritchie

The evening storms would roll in through the middle of June
And when the storm had passed, she’d take a walk
Among the oak trees and find the rock
While her and Ritchie would watch the moon come up
Every summer he’d come back with yarns to spin
And he would quickly sweep her off her feet
And they’d be dancing among the leaves
And he would whisper to her dark and sweet
Everyone knew, but they kept it from her
How Ritchie ran his job van to a tree
Sometimes he would play pool and have a few more drinks
Maybe one more just to clear his head
While she would wait because she thought
That Ritchie was the closest to a saint
That night the moon rose, first gold, then red
A thunder rumbled in the rolling hills
And she could not hear a siren’s wail
Or she might’ve seen his twisted rails
Everyone knew, but they kept it from her
How Ritchie ran his job van to a tree
In his pocket was a ring for her
But the road, it curved, and Ritchie drove straight through
Evening, she goes walking towards the old oak grove
And plum blossoms are falling on the road
Years had passed, now she walks
With Ritchie’s brother Tony, hand in hand
She told herself she’d never get to love again
Not after the awful thing she’d been through
But how a woman can endure so much
That she just cannot explain
Everyone knew, but they kept it from her
That Tony fell asleep behind the wheel
In his pocket was a letter for her
Saying Ritchie’s gone, but I’ll take care of you