Dave Keats songs are © copyright protected.
A cold and bitter night in South Ontario
I was welcomed by the snow and howling wind
As I stepped down from the plane that had just landed.
From a place I wished I'd never see again.
The customs man checked through my bags and papers
And asked if I had anything to declare.
But I only had a guitar and harmonica
And the letter in the pocket near my chest.
But that letter held no promise for the future.
A memory of distant days long gone.
And if it wasn't for the girl who'd wrote her signature
I guess I wouldn't be there any way.
So I headed down the stairs to the reception.
Or maybe up, I can't remember now.
My feet were walking fast but going nowhere.
My mind was on the letter that I held.
But that letter held no promise for the future.
A memory of distant days long gone.
And if it wasn't for the girl who'd wrote her signature
I guess I wouldn't be there any way.
I heaved my bags out to the Greyhound
To catch the first bus going out of town.
When I was just about to check in for my ticket
O'r my shoulder I heard that oh so familiar sound.
"Hey Dave. It was good to see you finally made it."
As if nothing had changed since we'd last met.
"I'm sorry for the heartache that I gave you,
But sometimes you've gotta get things off your chest
Though that letter held no promise for the future.
A memory of distant days long gone.
And I looked down at the girl who'd wrote her signature
The time had come to throw it all away.
Written 12th May 1975