Night Train to the Long Farewell
"All I ever wanted to be was Grand Poobah..." Howard Cunningham
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Lyrics
Night Train to the Long Farewell
Well, I got back after sundown, from the VFW
Sat there and I played his message, then did what I had to do
Called the local Amtrak station, slipped some mercy in my coat
Then I hit the corner Quick-Stop, and I bought a pack of smokes
And my memories began to feel like moths and locusts
Feeding on tomorrow till today became unfocused
Wed been serving on a gunboat, in the veins of Vietnam
Roger lit a smoke and told me, wars a voyage of the damned
I remember tellin Roger, Id prefer he shot me dead
Than to suffer without mercy, in some lonely V-A bed
I can still hear Roger hummin Let It Be and Hey Jude
Washin down the fear and loss with Mekong whiskey and a Quaalude
Found that hospital in Knoxville, walked the stairs to Rogers floor
Nurses busy down the hallway, when I slipped in Rogers door
Saw me and he started wheezin, breathin through a tube and tank
Whispered when he met the devil, hed just give his name and rank
Will the soldier wielding freedoms saber be forgiven
How far into Hades fire can he march and still see heaven
Lit a Winston for old Roger, pulled the mercy from my coat
Used a pillow for a muffler, and his soul turned into smoke
Then I walked back to the station, lonesome as a man can be
Im the only one whos left now, who would do the same for me
In that time of darkness, death is certain and relentless
And the sweetest cigarette is not to die alone and friendless
2010 Robert George
