ALL I CAN BE (IS A SWEET MEMORY)


(Harlan Howard (m & l) )


As sung by Collin Raye < All I Can Be > 1990


All I can be is a sweet memory

That drifts through your mind from time from time

I can never be more than a knock on your door

Just a shadow that's gone with the sunshine.


For you know I'm not free

And I never can be

And you're bound to get restless in time

All I can be is a sweet memory

That drifts through your mind.


Tonight I'll share the silence here

While lyin' here with you

The sands of time have trickled down

Just a precious few.


You're young and so beautiful

And I'm so glad I'm here

But the ending is painfully clear.


All I can be is a sweet memory

Of someone you had to leave behind

Who loves you and needs you

Never could give you

A ring for your finger so fine.


So tonight we'll just borrow each other

Tomorrow we'll find we've run out of time

And all I can be is a sweet memory

That drifts through your mind


For you know I'm not free

And I never can be

And you're bound to get restless in time

And all I can be is a sweet memory

That drifts through your mind.


(bridge)


For you know I'm not free

And I never can be

And you're bound to get restless in time

All I can be is a sweet memory

That drifts through your mind.


All I can be is a sweet memory

That drifts through your mind.


Notes:


Collin Raye is an American singer and bass guitarist from Arkansas.

Although he is known primarily for his country pop work, often his songs

also reflect social issues and many recognize him for this. Such topics

have included child abuse, alcoholism, religion, wars, and death.

Interestingly, two of his best known songs (emotional offerings as they

are) are often requested for weddings and funerals, the former perhaps

being IN THIS LIFE 1992 

and the latter LOVE, ME 1991. 




(Transcribed by David Story June 2014)