WHEN THE RIVER MEETS THE SEA

(Paul H. Williams (m & l) 1977)

Lyrics as released by John Denver 1979 ‘A Christmas Together’

When the mountain touches the valley
All the clouds are taught to fly
As our souls will leave this land most peacefully
Though our minds be filled with questions.

In our hearts we'll understand
When the river meets the sea
Like a flower that has blossomed
In the dry and barren sand.

We are born and born again most gracefully
Thus the winds of time will take us
With a sure and steady hand
When the river meets the sea.

Patience my brother and patience my son
In that sweet and final hour
Truth and justice will be done.

Like a baby when it is sleeping
In its loving mother's arms
What a newborn baby dreams is a mystery.

But his life will find a purpose
And in time he'll understand
When the river meets the sea
When the river meets the almighty sea.

NOTES:

This song/lyric can be found in Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s 
Jug-Band Christmas, a TV adaptation of a 1969 book by the same name.  
HBO/CBC production premiered Dec 1978. Williams was asked to write 
some original songs for this adaptation and this is one of them.

John Denver, an American, wrote 300 songs, among them the notable 
‘Calypso’ (1975), an ode to ocean exploration and Jacques Cousteau.


(Transcribed by David Story - January 2014)