Wintertime comes early to the north part of this state   I walk along the river where we used to come and skate   The trees're now all gone and by the river there's a sign   Trespassin' is a twenty dollar fine   Lookin' up the road toward the schoolhouse on the hill   That thing about an empty building causes me to chill   My memory goes back to when the teacher rang the bell   The day she sent you home for saying hell   Walkin' past the building so important in my past   The road is full of ol' discarded bottles and some trash   I step behind the building as I shelter from the cold   I see our names in letters big and bold      My fingers trace the letters of a work of art alone   And I recall the day that you carved it in a stone   Somehow I can see you now with books and coat in hand   You always waved as down the hill you ran   Cokes were just a nickel then and many were the times   The two of us would sip them as if they were village wine   And then on Graduation Day we bought the little ring   And said that carats didn't mean a thing   Now I retrace my footsteps to the cab that waits for me   Looking back to see our names you carved upon a tree   The driver says I look familiar asks me what's my name   I say hurry I have to catch a plane