Natalie Merchant
River (Paradise Is There Version)
[Verse 1]
Young and strong, Hollywood son
In the early morning light
This star, fell down
On Sunset Boulevard
Young and strong, beautiful one
One that we embraced so closely is gone
Was torn, torn away

[Pre-Chorus]
So let the youth of America mourn
Include him in their prayers
Let his image linger on
Repeated ev'rywhere

[Chorus]
With candles, with flowers
He was
One of ours
He was one of ours

[Verse 2]
Why don't you let him be
He's gone, we know
Give his mother and his father peace
Vulture's candor, casual slander
You murder his memory
He's gone, we know
And it's nothin' but a tragedy
[Bridge]
Lay to rest your soul, your body
Lay beside your name
Lay to rest your rage, your hunger, and amazing grace

[Chorus]
With candles, with flowers
You were
One of ours

[Bridge 2]
I saw cameras expose
Your life
I heard rumors explode
Explode with lies
I saw children in tears
Cry, and crowd around the site
Of where you had collapsed that day
And where your last breath and word had been sighed
Where your heart burst, and where you had died
I saw where you had died
I saw where you had died

[Pre-Chorus/Outro (to fade)]
Let the youth of America mourn
Include him in their prayers
Let his image linger on
Repeated ev'rywhere
Let the youth of America mourn
Include him in their prayers
Let his image linger on
Repeated ev'rywhere
Let the youth of America mourn...