| I received a letter this evening
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| How you reckon it read?
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| You’re invited to a reunion
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| A reunion of the dead
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| It’s been 25 years since we’ve seen you
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| Lord, don’t that time go fast?
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| We want you to pack your bags, leave your life
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| We want to relive the past
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| Well, I respectfully decline
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| Oh, I respectfully decline
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| For this heart of mine
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| And my peace of mind
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| I respectfully decline
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| And a few of us got famous
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| A few more have sadly passed
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| Sister married now to the rich man
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| And Brother James he’s pumping gas
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| Ivory Lee he plays harmonica
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| He got a blues band every Friday night
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| And Spec’s he’s still picking bluegrass
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| And he will till he gets it right
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| And I respectfully decline
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| Oh, I respectfully decline
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| For this heart of mine
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| And my peace of mind
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| I respectfully decline
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| And I respectfully decline
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| Oh, I respectfully decline
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| For this heart of mine
|
| And my peace of mind
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| I respectfully decline
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| And you, you had a crush on me
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| The rebel boy who stood apart
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| After all these years you ask me the same question
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| Have I ever shared my heart?
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| I say, «thank you for your invitation
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| I sometimes think on the time we shared
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| But like a long flowing river
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| I’m 25 years from there»
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| So I respectfully decline
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| Oh, I respectfully decline
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| For this heart of mine
|
| And my peace of mind
|
| I respectfully decline
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| For this heart of mine
|
| And my peace of mind
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| I respectfully decline |