the locket

back in '41 you met a brown eyed boy who called you pretty

he'd walk everyday a couple miles out of his way to hold your hand and keep you company

your mama said don't call it love at 14

but sitting on that front porch swing

he gave you his picture in a locket that you wore around your neck

left it right beside your heart so you would not forget

the way it felt when he held your hand

and you swore that you would never take it off

and the butterflies you felt said it all

you were falling with a boy inside your locket

back in '43 your brown eyed boy went over seas and had to leave town for a little while

he swore he'd marry you as soon as the war was through

you would be his wife

standing in the pouring rain

you cried as you watched him ride away

but everyday

you had his picture in a locket that you wore around your neck

left it right beside your heart so you would not forget

the way his kiss tasted on your lips

and everyday felt like a lifetime with him gone

and you prayed that god would bring him safely home

'cause you made a promise to the boy inside your locket

oh

60 years you two had together and he's been gone for a couple now

and it breaks my heart to see you struggle to remember

and i've been writing all your memories down

and i stopped by today to read a couple pages

grandma

you sure look pretty

and you smile that smile

the one i haven't seen in quite a while

and you said to me

i want you to keep

his picture in a locket that i wore around my neck

the one i left beside my heart so i would not forget

the greatest love and the greatest man i've ever known

but it's getting time for me to head on home

she said

that brown eyed boy is waiting and i don't wanna keep him long

heaven is calling

and she said

my heart is longing

for the boy inside your locket