The Train

Journey through empty places,  Another nameless soul as I go,  Take a seat by the window,  Stranger a reflection,  Bound now for wherever,  This last train goes,  For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And the last mile rolls on by,

The map to the flame,  Unread like so many letters,  Sent to those who came to forget,  Then left on their own,  To live whatever they dream,  So I may leave mine where they lay,  For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And the reason rolls on by,

Rest my weary heart,  Heavy like the ballast stones,  An ugliness against the green,  Long stream of broken pieces,  Carry me to consequence,  From love in all its cruelties,  For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And one more day rolls on by,

Rattle the hymn of the forgotten,  Wandering words,  Whispered like her name,  Carried away in the embers,  Rising from the firebox,  Stoked by my weathered hands,  For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And the last love rolls on by,

Melody in the madness,  Sorrows for my sins,  Another beggar in the night,  Gambling on the hereafter,  Careless for the loss now,  There is no one keeping score,  For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And the truth told rolls on by,

Out across the vacant plains,  Chasing the horizon,  Wildflowers ripple like water,  I follow the waves,  Reminisce of the sea,  That long rising tide,  For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And the misery rolls on by,

Shadows caress the dawn,  As morning comes slow,  One more sunrise alone,  While the dreams ebb away,  The nightmare lives on,  One sleeper at a time,  For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And the colour rolls on by, 

Through the valley dreary,  Into the misted grey,  Staring up into the mountain,  Lost in all I have seen,  Faces of those too far away, Now there is no way home,  For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And yesterday rolls on by,

Cold rivers of steel they wind,  Across one more bridge,  Onward side by side,  Glint in the fading light,  Like the shine in her eyes,  In a dream now forever lost, For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And my memory rolls on by,

Sweeping across the fields,  Flowers sway the wind,  Bright to the falling rain,  Colours piercing the grey,  From here to that horizon,  Blurring in the race,  For the wheel it turns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And my time rolls on by,

A journey to be eternal,  Adrift in the fire a light,  My blood flows along the rails,  Only rust left in my veins,  Symphony a cascade of sparks,  The screaming of steal,  For the wheel it burns,  Shrill the whistle blows,  And a lifetime rolls on by.