Joni was the girl who lived next door I've known her I guess ten years or more Joni wrote me a note one day And this is what she had to say Jimmy please say you'll wait for me I'll grow up someday you'll see Saving all my kisses just for you Signed with love forever true Slowly I read her note once more I went over to the house next door Her tear drops fell like rain that day When I told Joni what I had to say Joni, Joni please don't cry You'll forget me by and by You're just fifteen, I'm twenty two And Joni I just can't wait for you Soon I left our little home town Got me a job and tried to settle down But these words kept haunting my memory The words that Joni said to me Jimmy please say you'll wait for me I'll grow up some day you'll see Saving all my kisses just for you Signed with love forever true I packed my clothes and I caught a plane Had to see Joni I had to explain How my heart was filled with her memory And ask my Joni if she'd marry me I ran all the way to the house next door But things weren't like they were before My tear drops fell like rain that day When I heard what Joni had to say Jimmy, Jimmy please don't cry You'll forget me by and by It's been five years since you've been gone Jimmy I married your best friend John