Cross The River

(album: The Bedroom Tapes - 2000)

A hot cloud was hangin'around
We were a rowdy crowd
Drinkin'beer and smoking at the end of the pier
Danny was shuffling through a magazine
Clippin'out pictures of a car
To get us out of here

Laura was hounding him to get a bike
Warning him the time was now
Or he'd be out on his ear, she'd disappear

If only we could cross the river
We couldn't get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears every night

We were all somewhat out of school
Jersey by birth, relaxing but not on a holiday
An appalling amount of time spent at the mall
Not a tragedy, but not exactly the Milky Way

Looking for a bigger laugh, a better store,
A cutter guy, a shorter working day, better pay

If only we could cross the river
We couldn't get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears
Louder in our ears every night

When Laura and Danny broke up
She set her sights on Billy Stone
Well, I had just split from Jonathan
So by chance, I was all alone
Danny and I got along as well
We spent hours on the phone
Just talkin'on the phone

When I was twenty and crazy as a joke
I went to bed with a broker
When I was broke
I got used to doormen and limousines
And Christmas cards from friends signed by a machine
And woman, they were calling me "Ma'am"
As they cleaned up after me

If only we could cross the river
But something is holding us back
A way of life that's too familiar
Like the lines are to the railroad track

If only we could cross the river
We couldn't get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears every night

Dear Laura, I know it's been years
Since I crossed the bridge back to the Palisades
How are your kids?
Mine are both swell little fellas
Here are some clippings of me and Brad
At a charity ball and a White House sup
I've perfected my smile for the camera
Chin is up
I miss you all so much

If only I could cross the river
But something me holding us back
A way of life that's too familiar
Like the lines are to the railroad
Lines are to the railroad

If only we could cross the river
We couldn't get a jump-start on life
The whispers across the Hudson
Grow louder in our ears
Louder in our ears

If only we could cross the river
But something is holding us back
A way of life that's too familiar
Like the lines are to the railroad
Lines are to the railroad
Railroad track