Across The River: LYRICS

Welcome

Across The River is a song cycle based on the story of Fannie Heldmann. Fannie lived in Greenville, South Carolina from 1862-1889. Little is known about her brief life. The major event that we do know involves her tragic death. She took her own life on New Year's Day 1889 by drowning herself in the Reedy River. Her suicide was reported in The New York Times shortly after the event. It was said that she had become depressed over her upcoming arranged marriage to a business partner of her father.

I have taken literary license to imagine that Fannie had a lover before and during the time leading up to her wedding. I have given him the name of Jordan Christopher. Rather than face a marriage she did not want, she took her own life. This collection of songs reflect the love of Fannie and Jordan. They convey a simple yet profound fact: LOVE NEVER DIES.

If one goes to Springwood Cemetery in Downtown Greenville they can find Fannie's grave and monument on its highest point. Atop a column a forlorn angel looks down upon her final resting place. I often take walks in this cemetery and reflect upon the lives of those who are buried there. Over time I found myself drawn to that angel on the hill and this touching remembrance ultimately became the spark for this song cycle.

THE SONGS

Swan Song/Long Live Life/Everybody Sees Her/You Better Mind/I Know What I Need/If I Could, I Would/All Those Things That Graced My Heart/There For You/Love Never Dies/End of Summer/Midnight Moonlight Memory/The Angel's Eyes/May Your Heart Still Guide Your Way/Across the River

All Songs By William Bates

T21 Music 2013

LYRICS

IN THE DEEP DUSK OF NEW YEAR'S DAY

MY HEART WAS TORN BY A CHOICE

BETWEEN AN ARRANGEMENT AND MY FATHER'S SAY

AND THE SOUND OF MY LOVER'S VOICE

I SUPPOSE EVERYBODY KNOWS

I KNEW IT ALL ALONG, THIS IS MY SWAN SONG

THE CARRIAGE COMES I STAY IN MY ROOM

NO ANSWER GIVEN FROM MY DOOR

HIS FOOTSTEPS FADE AS IF INSIDE A TOMB

I JUST WANT WHAT I HAD BEFORE

(REPEAT)

AT THE RIVER'S EDGE, I STOP TO FORGIVE

IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER OR SO IT SEEMS

IS IT BETTER JUST TO LIVE?

OR TO FADE INTO THE DREAM?

(REPEAT)

SWAN SONG

WORDS AND MUSIC BY WILLIAM BATES

THREE ROSES, A BOX OF CHOCOLATE

LOVE LETTERS, THAT WERE NEVER SENT

MEMORIES MADE BUT BEST HID.

A DIAMOND PIN, A CAMEO

SECRETS ONLY WE KNOW

LIFE IS FUNNY, WITH ITS TWISTS AND TURNS

YOU BETTER MIND YOUR P'S AND Q'S

DO JUST WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO

YOU BETTER MIND YOUR P'S AND Q'S

YOU BETTER TOW THE PARTY LINE

NEVER SAY WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND

YOU BETTER TOW THE PARTY LINE

A PROMENADE TO THE FALLS

THERE THE RIVER DROPS, AND THAT'S NOT ALL

THE SILVER MOON SURVEYS THE SCENERY

MUSIC MOVES THROUGH THE SWAYING TREES

NOTES LINGER ON THE HUSHED BREEZE

AND FALL LIKE SHADOWS TO THE EARTH

(REPEAT)

YOU BETTER MIND

WORDS AND MUSIC BY WILLIAM BATES

THROUGH THE VEIL OF YEARS

EYES THROUGH BITTER TEARS

PICTURES ON THE WALL

I SIT AND STARE AT THEM ALL

THE CLOCK IT TICKS SO SLOW

THERE'S A FEVER DOWN BELOW

IT RAGES AND IT COOLS

IT DOES NOT SUFFER FOOLS.

I KNOW WHAT I NEED, WHAT I NEED, WHAT I NEED

I KNOW THERE'S NO GUARANTEES...NO

OVER THE HILL I WALK

NO TIME FOR IDLE TALK

A PURPOSE I DO KEEP

INTO THE DUSK SO DEEP

THE RIVER SHARP AND FREE

HOW IT CALLS TO ME

I SEEM TO BE BENDING TIME

TO LEAVE THIS ALL BEHIND

I KNOW WHAT I NEED, WHAT I NEED WHAT I NEED...

I KNOW WHAT I NEED

WORDS AND MUSIC BY WILLIAM BATES

WHEN MY WORLD WAS YOUNG

BEFORE IT ALL CAME UNDONE

BEFORE I HAD TO RUN

BEFORE THE FALL

I HAD IT ALL...I HAD IT ALL

THE SUMMER SUN, THE WINDS OF MARCH

ALL THOSE THINGS THAT GRACED MY HEART

SIMPLE PLEASURES

BY THE SCORE

I WANTED MORE...I WANTED MORE

THE MOUNTAINS BLUE IN THEIR EXPANSE

THE CARRIAGE RIDE TO THE COTILLION DANCE

MUSIC MEANDERS THROUGH THE TREES

FOR YOU, FOR ME

FOR YOU, FOR ME

ALL THOSE THINGS THAT GRACED MY HEART

WORDS AND MUSIC BY WILLIAM BATES

LIGHT TWO CANDLES IN YOUR WINDOW

IF YOU CAN COME OUT AND PLAY

I'LL BE WAITING IN THE SHADOWS

JUST LIKE I DO EVERY DAY

YOUR EYES SEEM VACANT AND UNEASY

AS IF TO SAY GOODBYE

YOU DRAW CLOSE, I LOVE YOUR MYSTERY

AFTER ALL THIS TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHY

IF I COULD, I'D MAKE IT BETTER FOR YOU

IF I COULD I WOULD..

WRITE A LETTER, PUT IT IN YOUR HOPE CHEST

PUT ALL YOUR SECRETS DOWN

NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS

I'LL MAKE SURE IT'S NEVER FOUND

I HEARD WHISPERS, ALL ABOUT YOU

WE BOTH KNOW THEY'RE LIES

BUT OH HOW IT MAKES ME SO BLUE

I HATE TO SEE YOU CRY

(REPEAT)

ON MAIN STREET, I HEAR THE CLICK CLACK

OF YOUR FATHER'S CARRIAGE RIDE

THAT'S MY CUE TO SLIP AROUND BACK

AND CALL YOU TO MY SIDE

YOUR MOTHER SLEEPS AN ANXIOUS SLUMBER

INTO THE PALE MOONLIGHT

BUT IN THE DISTANCE WE BOTH HEAR THUNDER

TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE IT RIGHT.

(REPEAT)

IF I COULD, I WOULD

WORDS AND MUSIC BY WILLIAM BATES

I WENT TO THE RIVER, JUST PAST THAT FATEFUL DAY

I FELT SUCH A SHIVER, I HAD TO TURN AWAY

PEACE BE UNTO YOU

MAY YOUR HEART STILL GUIDE YOUR WAY

I THOUGHT I COULD REALLY SEE YOU

BUT ALL I SAW WAS GRAY

I TOOK A RIDE TO THE MOUNTAIN,WHERE WE ONCE HELD SWAY

BESIDE THE MANSION'S FOUNTAIN, I TRIED BUT I COULD NOT PRAY

(REPEAT)

I BUILT A FIRE, UNDERNEATH A WILLOW TREE

AND AS THE FLAMES GREW HIGHER, I WAS BEGUILED BY YOUR MYSTERY

(REPEAT)

MAY YOUR HEART STILL GUIDE YOUR WAY

WORDS AND MUSIC BY WILLIAM BATES

GOODBYE MY LOVE, MY TIME HAS COME

TO RISE ABOVE, TO TOUCH THE SUN

THE DREAM WE HAD, WE CAME SO CLOSE

BUT DON'T BE SAD, DON'T GIVE UP HOPE

LOVE ENDURES AND LOVE SURVIVES

ACROSS THE RIVER SO DEEP AND WIDE

LAY ME DOWN IN THE WINTER CHILL

I'LL ALWAYS BE AROUND, YOU KNOW I WILL

SEND UP A PRAYER AND ASK FOR GRACE

IN THE EVENING AIR, WHERE TIME CAN'T ERASE

(REPEAT)

THE RAINS WILL COME, THE SKY WILL CLEAR

WHAT'S DONE IS DONE, HAVE NO FEAR

WE'LL MEET AGAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE

THERE IS NO END, THE SOUL NEVER DIES

(REPEAT)

ACROSS THE RIVER

WORDS AND MUSIC BY WILLIAM BATES

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