River & Tanya

I'll never forget how I got the bad news...letter from Alexa about our mutual friend who went to the Seattle Arboretum and took a shot-gun to her heart. And almost 16 years later, we still don't know exactly why she did it. RIP Tanya Lippe.

This song, from the time I heard the news, always makes me think of her...and my Dad, who died also (though not by his own hand), about a year later. The 15th anniversary of his death is coming up (7/24/1996), and so I can't help but think of it.

I love you both, I wish you were still here with us. Why did you go? I still don't understand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E-Jd_HRoIU

"River"
by Natalie Merchant
Young & strong Hollywood son
In the early morning light
This star fell down
On Sunset Boulevard

Young & strong beautiful one
One that we embraced so close
Is gone
Was torn away

Let the youth of America mourn
Include him in their prayers
Let his image linger on
Repeat it everywhere

With candles with flowers
He was one of ours
One of ours

Why don't you let him be?
He's gone
We know
Give his mother & his father peace
Your vulture's candor
Your casual slander
You murder his memory
He's gone
We know
It's nothing but a tragedy

Lay to rest your soul and body
Lay beside your name
Lay to rest your rage
Your hunger and amazing grace

With candles, with flowers
You were one of ours
One of ours

I saw cameras expose your life
I heard rumors explode with lies
I saw children with tears
Cry and crowd around the sight
Of where you had collapsed that day
Where your last breath & word
Had been sighed
Where your heart had burst
And where you had died
Where you had died

I saw how they were lost in grieving
All half-believing you were gone
The loss and pain of it
Crime and the shame of it
You were gone
It was such a nightmare raving,
"how can we save him
From himself?"
Saw how they were lost in grieving
All half-believing you were gone