Casey's Last Ride

Casey joins the hollow sound of silent people walking down
The stairway to the subway in the shadows down below
Following the footsteps through the neon-darkened corridors
Of silent desperation, never speakin’ to a soul
The poisoned air he’s breathin’ has the dirty smell of dyin’
‘Cause it’s never seen the sunshine and it’s never felt the rain
But Casey minds the arrows and ignores the fatal echoes
Of the clickin’ of the turnstile and the rattle of his chain

Oh, she said, Casey it’s been so long since I’ve seen you
Here, she said, just a kiss to make a body smile
See, she said, I’ve put on new stockings just to please you
Lord, she said, Casey can you only stay a while

Casey leaves the underground and stops inside the Golden Crown
For something wet to wipe away the chill that’s on his bones
Seein’ his reflection in the lives of all the lonely men
Who reach for anything they can to keep from goin’ home
Standing in the corner, Casey drinks his pint of bitter
Never glancin’ in the mirror at the people passin’ by
Then he stumbles as he’s leaving and he wonders if the reason
Is the beer that’s in his belly or the tear that’s in his eye

Oh! She said, I suppose you seldom think about me
Now, she said, now that you’ve a family of your own
Still, she said, it’s so blessed good to feel your body
Lord, she said, Casey it’s a shame to be alone!