Whistling Rivalry

Where we're playing by the river
 And climbing trees
 With friends I can't remember
 All with scabby knees
 Pictures of family secrets I'm glad I'm not involved in
 We posed for a family portrait
 When you were nine
 It hung on the walls of your bedroom
 Until you turned twenty-one
 It then grew old in a wooden box
 Along with pictures that we took in Rome
 It never felt right
 To hang them on a wall
 With pictures of school friends,
 Of city crowds
 Of ancient girlfriends
 Of family dogs
 Of that New Year's Eve party in 1994
 Where we're playing by the river
 And climbing trees
 With friends I can't remember
 All with scabby knees
 Pictures of family secrets I'm glad I'm not involved in
 I found that portrait two weeks ago
 I hadn't seen it in years
 Were we ever that young?
 It was that whistling rivalry that made us strong
 Were we ever that young?
 Were we ever that young?
 END