Story Behind The Song

"Watching The Years Go By" ...a song for the season. In October of 2002, John Ryan received a request from National Public Radio to provide a song to be included in an annual Christmas program that airs between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The following is the song that he wrote for the occasion. "Watching The Years Go By" was performed by Laurie Broadway. This song was submitted to the Great American Song Contest 2003 where it became a finalist and received an Honor Award. The song was chosen by record producer Peter Clayton of Robinwood Productions Ltd. as one to be featured on the album 'Words Alone, The Music and Lyrics of John Ryan' which was recorded at Air Edel Studios in London in 2005.

Song Description

'Watching The Years Go By' is a song which reflects on the holiday season, especially the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

Lyrics

WATHCING THE YEARS GO BY
Words & Music by John Ryan
© 2002 John Patrick Ryan (ASCAP) Ryanwood Music
www.ryanmusic.com


The years bring us days,
Bring us special occasions,
Where memories and gifts play their part.

The holidays bring us,
Material things,
But the real gifts we hold in our hearts.

And I,
Watch the seasons go by;
As the cycle of life,
Keeps revolving?

From cribs and from cradles,
To stories and fables,
The innocent wonder of a child.

They all disappear,
As we pass through the years,
But at times we relive them for a while.

Gifts can be given,
And gifts can be taken,
And some we receive over time.

But those that are real,
Are the ones you can feel;
Mine is having you here at my side,
Watching the years go by?



The season?s approaching,
When people start hoping,
For things that they think that they need.

Some are the poorer,
For being the richer,
Their eyes often blinded by greed.

And I,
Watch the seasons go by;
Winter comes and I find,
Once again it?s?

The season for giving,
Give thanks just for living,
This moment in time under the sun.

Let hopes for the New Year,
Replace all the fears of a,
World that seems bound to come undone.

Our greatest gifts hide,
In front of our eyes,
Sometimes those are hardest to find.

But mine, I can see,
And today I give thanks to be,
Having you here at my side,
Watching the years go by?
Watching the years go by?
Watching the years go by?

Copyright ©2002 John Ryan c/o Ryanwood Music (ASCAP)
International Copyright Secured; All Rights Reserved
www.ryanmusic.com