The Man by the Coast

I heard there's a man who lives out by the coast
He stays there through winters
When the waters get cold
He was young once, like me
Now he's scared that he's through
That the last time he'd swim
Would be coming up soon

I was twelve years old, at least I think I was
When my father told me I'd been growing up
Then my legs grew on till I could reach the things he did
But my eyes got smaller
And the world got taller
And I couldn't reach the thing I'd seen
When I was young

I heard there's a man who lives out by the coast
He stays there through winters
When the waters get cold
He was young once, like me
Now he's scared that he's through
That the last time he'd swim
Would be coming up soon

Then the years got short and I was twenty one
And I lost a friend and then I fell in love
And I held her tight 'cause I was tired of letting go
I was terrified the years were speeding up
Would the wrinkles come before I lived enough?
I miss the days I dind't know that I'd grow up

I heard there's a man who lives out by the coast
He stays there through winters
When the waters get cold
He was young once, like me
Now he's scared that he's through
That the last time he'd swim
Would be coming up soon

When the leaves fell for winter, I went out by the coast
I was chasing the youth that I'd lost years before
I looked out and saw a man walk to the shore
There was snow on his feet but a smile in his soul
I talked to the man who lives out by the coast
He was old now, like I'd be
When the years carried on
I begged him to tell me how to swim, when it's cold
He said that everything ages
But the youth in your soul
When I swim for the last time
I won't care if it's cold