Last Goodbye

The Highwaymen softly play Me And Bobby Magee And for the next four hours Every single drink is free. Order what you like friend And stick it on the slate Tonight we’re saying goodbye To my best and oldest mate. On the bar in isolation stands The Absent Friend’s Drink, At the end of the night to be Quickly poured down the sink. Like every other human being He was good and bad in parts A fact that becomes apparent When the reminiscing starts. A man of strong opinions Which he carried to the end And we didn’t always agree Me and this good old friend. It was a friendship of honesty We didn’t tell each other lies We just agreed to differ and Each learned to compromise. From teenaged Squaddies To men of retirement age We remained mates through Every changing life stage. Strong willed, as often Wrong as he was right He never ever conceded Without a spirited fight. A mam of surprises A man seemingly apart But not far below the surface One of good and kind heart. The free bar has closed Heaven knows how big the slate But we gave a fitting farewell To my much missed old mate. I’ve drunk so many pints as This night draws to its end But I’m stone cold sober As I think of my old friend The Absent Friend’s Drink Has been quietly poured away Marking the official end of this His wake and funeral day. The music’s switched off. Now just a big empty room That, to quote the apt saying Is almost silent as a tomb. One last look around to check Then they switch off the light And tired staff follow us out Into the darkness of the night.