Lyrics Softly and Tenderly - Jeannie C. Riley, Steve Archer

Softly and Tenderly

The class reunion invitation was delivered to me today
It brought back burning mem’ries of a happy yesterday
I went to my cedar chest got down on my knees
The chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories
As I carefully open up the box my mind wanders back
To all the things we used to do me and Billy Jack
Here’s the first note he wrote and gave me in the hall
It asked if I’d stay after school to watch him play football
The chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories
Here are the tickets dubbed for my first picture show
I’d seen him talkin' to Rita Gail and I almost didn’t go The corsage I wore to the senior prom pressed and dried
The scarf he tied around my hair for a motorcycle ride
The chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories
Here’s his lettered sweater with a patch Player of the year
And the handkerchief I’d used to wipe away all my tears
When he was playing chicken to prove the greatness of his nerve
And a speeding car killed my dreams on Dead Man’s Curve
The chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories
Yes the chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories