THE RAILWAY MAN ( or I DREAMED UP AMERICA)
Originally posted on December 12, 2011 – Re-posted – 09.12.2019
part of an Edenbray Retrospective
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THE RAILWAY MAN ( or I DREAMED UP AMERICA )
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I, is a lover not a fighter and I work on trains
My calloused hands happy next to softened skin
Not fingering the trigger, not sighting the kill
Nor riding the bronco, nor the soldiers greed
¥
I’se got two hours in town with a lady of mine
that I met when she needed a friend and I was lonely
We drank bourbon in ‘Huskeys’ and spoke of the future
She then told me of certain things she had lost
¥
I’se wishin’ maybe one day I would settle down
Until I hears that lonely whistle blowin’
and I starts to think again of Sophie-Dawn that girl
I met last summer when the sun was hot in Bakersville
¥
Her hair was auburn and fell down her back like water
We let our passions run in the back of a grey-blue Buick
I promised her I would see her again and she laughed
and said she had more chance of meeting Jesus
¥
The smoke, the oil, the sweat and blackened coal,
The thunder of her loving wheels, this engine smooth
rocks me, soothes me till I’m walking on my knees
and Anna Sway is calling me from Aidan County
¥
Where the bluest mountains rise and the dark river
Deep and meaningful draws my soulful sense
Amid the rumble and the stink of this ashpan hopper
I’se still grip the throttle lever and the crank shifts awkward
¥
The old steam-chest snorts, the eccentric rod
engaged and oiled begins to travel like thunder
Over and beyond the blushing landscape of my hearts ease
Where lace dreams deny the passion of the day
¥
Where young Donna May is living with her mother
or Pieter Gotlander, a childhood bride at 17
who ran away from her murderous husband
He had threatened to kill her, her sister and her lover
¥
I’se a railway man, and I’se seen the sun set in many counties
Here at the dawn of a new America and in June
I saw my first brown bear fishing steelhead at the brow
of those swirling rapids in the cold Muskegon River
¥
I dreams of ladies fair and bare it gets me through this day
and tomorrow is taking care of itself for me I reckie’
I’se a railway tiller, an engineer of silver steel
I’se not in a hurry to get home or afraid to roam
¥
Taking my time, I’se fine, I’se in my prime
Have no hurry even to eat, or catch a bloodied dollar
There was a time when I did it all and some
and learned this engines hard but never cruel
¥
I hope to meet that black hunny Ellie, I met her once in Barry
She wore a fur coat, boots and sucked on candy lolly
and then I let her down one night, got held up
At the dust-ring watching two bloodied rovers fight
¥
I’se a natural liar I learned it from my ma’
Who taught me never take what you can buy
And never borrow what you might steal
Cos’ in the morning there’s a pedlar in us all
¥
Tonight this train is cold, laying on its back
By tomorrow evening I’se have run the derby
Run it there, delivered and collected my prize
These hot wet tears in my eyes just white stains
on some young woman’s dress!
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writtenbyedenbray12.12.2011
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Jessica Phirri says :- A character, a lonely man. A machine. A lifestyle disconnected, but sewn together by women. There is something about edenbray and the mechanics of living. Another fine tune, my s.m.