Casey's Last Ride

Casey joins the hollow sound
Of silent people walkin' down
The stairway to the subway
In the shadows down below

Following their footsteps
Through the neon darkened corridors
Of silent desperation, never speaking to a soul

The poison air he's breathing has the dirty smell of dyin'
'Cause it's never seen the sunshine
And it's never felt the rain

Casey minds the arrows and ignores the fatal echoes
Of the clicking of the turn stops
And the rattle of his chains

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 stocking 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

Seeing 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 final bitter
Never glancing in the mirror
At the people passing by

Then he stumbles as he's leavin'
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