Near The Beach

Richards/Augie March

When I lived near the beach
Things were not more clear to me
But all the same I was alone
Say I was alone
Before I tired at all
Or ever touched a girl
Oh, can you imagine,
Could you imagine how I would work

When I lived near the beach
I wrote the songs you're hearing now
I couldn't take them with me when I left town
I'm tired of carrying them anyhow
Now they whore themselves around

No more careful love songs
No more letters to old friends
I can only watch the sun go down
I cannot chase it to its ends
Now what kind of song is this
That no longer sings of love and friends

They were open every hour
See that thing again
To quiet all the voices
For which they use your name without asking

There was music in the house
Still ships in the bay
Old women and children crawl in the shadow
At the end of every day
Over everything
Summer would go on, you would sing

You will never
Be so tender
When your heart is lending
Itself to soar

When I lived near the beach
I never thought the things I think of now