Met my old lover in the grocery store

The snow was falling Christmas Eve

I stole behind her in the frozen foods

And I touched her on the sleeve



She didn't recognize the face at first

But then her eyes flew open wide

She went to hug me and she spilled her purse

And we laughed until we cried



We took her groceries to the checkout stand

The food was totaled up and bagged

We stood there lost in our embarrassment

As the conversation dragged



We went to have ourselves a drink or two

But couldn't find an open bar

We bought a six-pack at the liquor store

And we drank it in her car



We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to now

And tried to reach beyond the emptiness

But neither one knew how



She said she'd married her an architect

Who kept her warm and safe and dry

She would have liked to say she loved the man

But she didn't like to lie



I said the years had been a friend to her

And that her eyes were still as blue

But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I

Saw doubt or gratitude



She said she saw me in the record stores

And that I must be doing well

I said the audience was heavenly

But the traveling was hell



We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to now

And tried to reach beyond the emptiness

But neither one knew how



We drank a toast to innocence

We drank a toast to time

Reliving in our eloquence

Another 'auld lang syne'



The beer was empty and our tongues were tired

And running out of things to say

She gave a kiss to me as I got out

And I watched her drive away



Just for a moment I was back at school

And felt that old familiar pain

And as I turned to make my way back home

The snow turned into rain