Dave -

had this friend, not close to me,

But still someone I liked, and he

Had passed away quite suddenly,

Had passed away quite suddenly…

«Passed away» -- how soft a phrase,

How gently on the heart it plays,

It shields you from life’s harsher ways,

He died, he left, ran out of days,

We’d share a laugh, we’d share a tune,

And then we’d both move on,

I was supposed to see him soon,

But now the chance is gone

Well, I could tell you 'bout my friend,

But it’s been said much better than

I ever could by other men,

No need for me to speak again

Except to say at last I see

The face of my mortality,

The face of Death in front of me,

And I won’t go the same as he.

I make that empty promise now,

That I’ll choose how to die,

A shallow, hopeless, useless vow,

But still I’ve got to try.

So take the time to sing your song,

Ask those you love to sing along,

You’ll never know till things go wrong,

And then the chance has come and gone.

I had this friend, not close to me,

But still someone I liked, and he

Had passed away quite suddenly,

Had passed away quite suddenly…