Met my old lover in the grocery storeThe snow was falling Christmas eveI stole behind her in the frozen foodsAnd I touched her on the sleeveShe didn't recognize the face at firstBut then her eyes flew open wideShe went to hug me and she spilled her purseAnd we laughed until we cried.We took her groceries to the checkout standThe food was totaled up and baggedWe stood there lost in our embarrassmentAs the conversation dragged.We went to have ourselves a drink or twoBut couldn't find an open barWe bought a six-pack at the liquor storeAnd we drank it in her car.We drank a toast to innocenceWe drank a toast to nowTried to reach beyond the emptinessBut neither one knew how.She said she'd married her an architectKept her warm and safe and dryShe would have liked to say she loved the manBut she didn't like to lie.

I said the years had been a friend to herAnd that her eyes were still as blueBut in those eyes I wasn't sure if I sawDoubt or gratitude.She said she saw me in the record storesAnd that I must be doing wellI said the audience was helping meBut the traveling was hell.We drank a toast to innocenceWe drank a toast to nowTried to reach beyond the emptinessBut neither one knew how.We drank a toast to innocenceWe drank a toast to timeReliving in our eloquenceAnother 'auld lang syne'...The beer was empty and our tongues were tiredAnd running out of things to sayShe gave a kiss to me as I got outAnd I watched her drive away.Just for a moment I was back at schoolAnd felt that old familiar painAnd as I turned to make my way back homeThe snow turned into rain --