Every time we would walk
into a crowded room,
talk would start and pretty soon all heads would turn our way.
We would just look at each other,
her reassuring smile would smother out
the ugly things I knew that they would say.
We had a blanket of love around us,
what they said would not confound us,
cause the joy we shared filled every
night and day.
I thought nothing could penetrate the love that shielded us from
hate,
but in our small town it's the gossip for today.
While her divorce was
pending,
we planned a new home at the bending
of the river where we used to sit
and dream.
We thought out there that we could find peace and hope the gossip all
would soon cease.
We kept legal matters dragging on it seemed.
Then one night
rain made the highway slick
and I hit the bricks too quick.
I was safe and then
crawled over where she lay.
I was crying,
halfway praying as I heard what she was
saying.
In our small town it was the gossip for today.
Legally he claimed the body,
the funeral was closed to me,
he wouldn't let my flowers through the door.
I was alone in my grieving,
in a stupor
disbelieving that she'd never
hold and love me anymore.
Now and then I slipped back all alone to place some
flowers at the stone,
trying not to see the words they chiseled there.
Here lies
the wife of Tommy Gray,
but it's my love beneath that clay.
In our small town the
gossip died today.
In our small town the gossip died today.