Richard Thompson
A Brother Slips Away
Seems like just the other day
You and I, we sat and played
Come all ye tramps and hawkers
And the white cockade
Tea was flowing, dice were rolling
We were 20, not much more
And now they say you've crossed over
To that distant shore
And a brother slips away
Like a ship at dawn of day
A brother slips away
Another brother gone
A brother slips away
I reached out my hand too late
A brother slips away
A brother slips away
Juliet, you came up smiling
Wherever life would toss you
You were everybody's friend
Except the fools who crossed you
They rained down death upon your head
You took it in your stride
They'll never knock it out of you
That good old London pride
And a sister slips away
Sing her name to Heaven's gate
A sister slips away
Another sister gone
A sister slips away
I reached out my hand too late
A sister slips away
Yes a sister slips away
Davy, it was through your eyes
That we saw so many things
The dusty feet of pilgrims
The halls of mountain kings
That old poet's vision
Still coursing through your veins
It breaks my heart that I will never
See your face again
And a brother slips away
Like a ship at dawn of day
A brother slips away
Another brother gone
A brother slips away
I reached out my hand too late
A brother slips away
A brother slips away
And a brother slips away
Sing his name to Heaven's gate
A brother slips away
Another brother gone
A brother slips away
I reached out my hand too late
A brother slips away
A brother slips away