"The Way I Remember"

I had a dream about you last night.
But you were cold. Silent. Inanimate.
And tossed aside like a broken toy.
The way I remember you last.
Why can't I keep these visions from swirling around in my brain?
How come when I think of you, it causes so much pain?
Memories come pouring in
Recollections of what-has-been
Christmases throughout the years
Joyous laughter, rarely tears
Warm smiles, dispelled fears
I wish I could go back.

I walked into your room the other day.
Or what used to be your room. Quiet. Unoccupied.
And a layer of dust covering your bed.
The way I remember it last.
Why can't I keep these visions from swirling around in my brain?
How come when I think of you, it causes so much pain?
Memories come pouring in
Recollections of what-has-been
Baseball games on the TV set
Will he score? No, not yet
Why is that umpire so upset?
I wish I could go back.

I found a picture of you in my album.
Did you know it was the end? Scowling. Confused.
It wasn't a good day.
The way I remember you last.
Why can't I keep these visions from swirling around in my brain?
How come when I think of you, it causes so much pain?
Memories come pouring in
Recollections of what-has-been
Together, making fudge or a cake
Anxiously waiting for it to bake
"Don't eat that, it's too hot to take!"
I wish I could go back.

I went to your house after school.
There were ambulances outside. Lights. Sirens.
They wheeled you out on a folding bed.
The way I remember you last.
Why can't I keep these visions from swirling around in my brain?
How come when I think of you, it causes so much pain?
Memories come pouring in
Recollections of what-has-been
Every single time that I would sing
You'd make sure you wouldn't miss a thing
Seeing you in the crowd was reassuring
I wish I could go back.

I found a bottle of pills.
Your name was on the label. Neat. Printed.
Those pills couldn't keep you here.
The way I remember you last.
Why can't I keep these visions from swirling around in my brain?
How come when I think of you, it causes so much pain?
Memories come pouring in
Recollections of what-has-been
"Smile," you said, and I asked why
"Because your smile lights up the sky-
So come on, dear, don't be shy."
I wish I could go back.

I received a call from your sister.
She asked if you were there. "Hello?" Silence.
I guess she still thought of you
The way I remember you last.
Why can't I keep these visions from swirling around in my brain?
How come when I think of you, it causes so much pain?
Memories come pouring in
Recollections of what-has-been
Side by side, we used to view
Lawrence Welk, André Rieu
We watched Sarah Brightman too
I wish I could go back.

I went to the funeral.
I didn't cry when I sang. Angels. Promises.
I was trying to think of you
The way I remember you last.
Why can't I keep these visions from swirling around in my brain?
How come when I think of you, it causes so much pain?
Memories come pouring in
Recollections of what-has-been
Swedish pancakes and marzipan
Mickey, Pluto, and the Disney chan.
All made me who I now am.
I wish I could go back.

I wonder, is it nice up there?
Do you remember me? Your granddaughter?
Do you think of me
Like I remember you last?
Memories come pouring in
Recollections of what-has-been
All along, I should have known
It's not "your house", it's now "our home"
And suddenly, I'm not alone.
I just went back.