I don't want this to outstay its welcome or become boring but trying to 'hear' it sung I felt it could be pared down even more without losing its sense. I can hear the final version (3) better in my head. Don't feel obliged to comment but any thoughts would be welcome.

After posting the first of these I read a  bit about song 'bridges' which though not essential are apparently often used to extend or deepen the feelings and ideas of the main body of the song usually with a different key, rhythmic pattern or melody change. So as an experiment I have added a 'bridge' in the second version now added below. Thought it might be interesting. I have also re-ordered the orginal stanzas to match the usual pattern in popular songs.

I'd be interested in your views on the comparison bewteen the two.

Z

Memory Is My Lover Now (Song) (1)
 
(Chorus)
I love and I am loved
But my desire
Has lost its fire and so
Memory is my lover now
 
Passion ebbs and cools with time
The rhythm of blood
Gives way to rhyme and
Memory is my lover now
 
My heart now walks to steady beat
In step with passing time
No leap or racing heat for
Memory is my lover now
 
Is desire a young man’s game
Reckless in the rush to sea
In love and loving aren’t the same
Memory is my lover now
 
Perhaps it’s fitting; must be true
Rushing done, ocean found
But I still miss the thrill of you
The peace of passion found
Holding, held, all night through

Memory is my lover now


Memory Is My Lover Now (Song) (2)
 
Passion ebbs and cools with time
The rhythm of blood
Gives way to rhyme and
Memory is my lover now
 
(Chorus)
I love and I am loved
But my desire
Has lost its fire and so
Memory is my lover now
 
My heart now walks to steady beat
In step with passing time
No leap or racing heat for
Memory is my lover now
 
(Chorus)
I love and I am loved
But my desire
Has lost its fire and so
Memory is my lover now
 
The universe is infinite
A fearful beauty there
But here inside the intimate
Is what we long to share
To touch to feel another’s soul
To take in trust, to love, to dare
 
Is desire a young man’s game
Reckless in the rush to sea
In love and loving aren’t the same
Memory is my lover now

(Chorus)
I love and I am loved
But my desire
Has lost its fire and so
Memory is my lover now 

Perhaps it’s fitting; must be true
Rushing done, ocean found
But I still miss the thrill of you
The peace of passion found
Holding, held, all night through

Memory is my lover now

Memory Is My Lover Now (Song) (3)
 
Passion ebbs, cools with time
Rhythm of blood
Transformed to rhyme
Memory is my lover now
 
(Chorus)
I love. I am loved
But my desire
Has lost its fire
Memory is my lover now
 
My heart has slowed its beat
With the passing time
No leap no racing heat
Memory is my lover now
 
(Chorus)
I love. I am loved
But my desire
Has lost its fire
Memory is my lover now
 
The universe is infinite
Fearful beauty there
But within, the intimate
Is what we long to share
To touch to feel another soul
To trust to love to dare
 
Desire is a young man’s game
A reckless rush to sea
In love and loving not the same
Memory is my lover now
 
(Chorus)
I love. I am loved
But my desire
Has lost its fire
Memory is my lover now
 
It is fitting. It is true
Rushing done, ocean found
I still miss the thrill of you
Peace in passion found
To hold, be held, all night through.
 
Memory is my lover now