Softly and Tenderly - Jeannie C. Riley, Steve Archer

The class reunion invitation was delivered to me today

It brought back burning mem’ries of a happy yesterday

I went to my cedar chest got down on my knees

The chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories

As I carefully open up the box my mind wanders back

To all the things we used to do me and Billy Jack

Here’s the first note he wrote and gave me in the hall

It asked if I’d stay after school to watch him play football

The chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories

Here are the tickets dubbed for my first picture show

I’d seen him talkin' to Rita Gail and I almost didn’t go The corsage I wore to the senior prom pressed and dried

The scarf he tied around my hair for a motorcycle ride

The chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories

Here’s his lettered sweater with a patch Player of the year

And the handkerchief I’d used to wipe away all my tears

When he was playing chicken to prove the greatness of his nerve

And a speeding car killed my dreams on Dead Man’s Curve

The chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories

Yes the chest that once was full of hope is now a box of memories