Songtext Strong swimmer Josh Ritter

Strong swimmer

On the night that you were born
Your mama who had many friends
Took you down across the reach
To meet the tide come in
There were no lilies from my footsteps
There were no temple curtains torn
Still I felt you move inside me
A strong swimmer to be born

The wind was in your hair
And your lips were flecked with salt
Your eyes were two boats for the moon
I said, a strong swimmer you'll be called

Now I cannot believ? to see
The leagues that you hav? swum
Cannot believe you once were me
That you and I were one
Time only travels one way
I’m afraid still I'm a fool
Cause in my mind I try to wind
The twine back on the spool

Now I'm standing on the cliffs
Cold sea is far below
The birds that float the midway air
Like driven flakes of snow
I cannot go where you are going
I can no longer fight those waves
Still I’ll watch you 'til you're out of sight
A strong swimmer all the way

On the night that you were born
Your mama who had many friends
Took you down across the reach
To meet the tide come in