I Drove Him to the Clinic in the Rain

Lyrics

The wipers beat a patient time
Across the grey of morning
He folds his coat across his knee
And does not speak of warning
I used to sit beside him here
A child with a seatbelt tight
Now I am the one who drives
And he is the passenger tonight

He taps the dashboard gently
Like a man who knows the way
And I keep my eyes on the road ahead
Because there's too much I could say

I drove him to the clinic in the rain
Slow along the river road
He looked out at the weather
And I carried half his load
I drove him to the clinic in the rain
And we did not say goodbye
Just a hand upon his shoulder
And the clouds clearing from the sky

He points out where the bakery was
Before the new road came
He tells me which old oak is gone
And calls each field by name
The waiting room has plastic chairs
And a clock that ticks too loud
He squeezes my hand once and smiles
Like a man who's very proud

He taps the dashboard gently
Like a man who knows the way
And I keep my eyes on the road ahead
Because there's too much I could say

I drove him to the clinic in the rain
Slow along the river road
He looked out at the weather
And I carried half his load
I drove him to the clinic in the rain
And we did not say goodbye
Just a hand upon his shoulder
And the clouds clearing from the sky

There is a kind of tenderness
In turning left and right
In holding open doors for him
And leaving on the light
He raised me with his patience
Now I give it back to him
One mile at a time

I drove him to the clinic in the rain
Slow along the river road
He looked out at the weather
And I carried half his load
I drove him to the clinic in the rain
And we did not say goodbye
Just a hand upon his shoulder
And the clouds clearing from the sky

Slow along the river road
Home again, the two of us