tell me one thing before you go

tell me one thing before you go
— i would not ask you to stay —
what’s the sweetest thing you know?

i take my waking slow
as sunrise unveils the day
tell me one thing before you go

before you leave me so
there’s something i must say
what’s the deepest thing you know?

i remember years ago
when you’d forgotten how to pray
tell me one thing before you go

though love fades here below
and lovely faces all decay
what’s the surest thing you know?

now in the dying sunset’s glow
i’ll send you on your way
but tell me one thing before you go
what’s the truest thing you know?