It's true that all the men you knew were dealers |
Who said they were through with dealing |
Every time you gave them shelter |
I know that kind of man |
It's hard to hold the hand of anyone |
Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender |
Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender |
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind |
You find he did not leave you very much |
Not even laughter |
Like any dealer he was watching for the card |
That is so high and wild |
He'll never need to deal another |
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger |
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger |
And then leaning on your window sill |
He'll say one day you caused his will |
To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter |
And then taking from his wallet |
An old schedule of trains, he'll say |
I told you when I came I was a stranger |
I told you when I came I was a stranger |
But now another stranger seems |
To want you to ignore his dreams |
As though they were the burden of some other |
O you've seen that man before |
His golden arm dispatching cards |
But now it's rusted from the elbow to the finger |
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter |
Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter |
Ah you hate to watch another tired man |
Lay down his hand |
Like he was giving up the holy game of poker |
And while he talks his dreams to sleep |
You notice there's a highway |
That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder |
It's curling just like smoke above his shoulder |
You tell him to come in sit down |
But something makes you turn around |
The door is open you can't close your shelter |
You try the handle of the road |
It opens do not be afraid |
It's you my love, you who are the stranger |
It's you my love, you who are the stranger |
Well, I've been waiting, I was sure |
We'd meet between the trains we're waiting for |
I think it's time to board another |
Please understand, I never had a secret chart |
To get me to the heart of this |
Or any other matter |
When he talks like this you don't know what he's after |
When he speaks like this, you don't know what he's after |
Let's meet tomorrow if you choose |
Upon the shore, beneath the bridge |
That they are building on some endless river |
Then he leaves the platform |
For the sleeping car that's warm |
You realize, he's only advertising on more shelter |
And it comes to you, he never was a stranger |
And you say okay the bridge or someplace later |
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind... |
Bridge: |
x4 |
And leaning on your window sill... |