The Golden Gate

We married in spring
At a young 23
Still making plans for the lives we would lead
Hopeful and brighter smile than a dream
As you walked down the aisle
I couldn’t help but beam

We bought an old house on 4th street in May
Fixed up the roof, but good? Who’s to say?
I hung up the painting you found tucked away
A sidestreet cafe on a warm sunlit bay

And you said “Hey, it’s there you know
Let’s grow old with life to show
We’ll drink wine while the cold wind blows
On a golden coast
Why don’t we go
Onto a greyhound to drive past the states?
Two kids, a job, growing old that can wait
Let’s live in the movies bеfore it’s too late
Or you’ll always dream of thе golden gate”

Five years are gone, but our love never swayed
Still holding on to the promise we made
Though that old house grew older and the painting did fade
Our dreams never gave of that cafe in the shade
And you’d say

“Hey, it’s there you know
Let’s grow old and alive to show
We’ll drink wine while a cool wind blows on the golden coast
Why don’t we go
Onto a greyhound to drive past the states?
Two kids, a job, growing old that can wait
Let’s live in the movies before it’s too late
Or we’ll always dream of the golden gate”

But the years move along
Soon you’re there while others are gone
And it’s clear you were wrong to keep holding on
But season will change like time on a clock
Making a cage that never unlocks
Roofs start to cave and paintings come down
And time that you gave to this dreary town
Is gone with you

Now I’m waiting here, our children all grown
Found someone to hold, made lives of their own
But I still remember the promise I owe
That sidestreet cafe under city lights that glow

And you’d say
“Hey, it’s there you know
Let’s grow old with life to show
We’ll drink wine while the cold wind blows
On a golden coast”

I think I’ll go
Onto a greyhound to drive past the states
Two kids, a job, growing old that was great
We saw all the movies but we were too late
And you always dreamed of the golden gate
And you should have seen the golden gate