Stranger Song

Verse: It’s true that all the men you knew were dealers Who said they were through with dealing Every time you gave them shelter I know that kind of man It’s hard to hold the hand of anyone Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender.     And  sweeping up the jokers that he left behind You find he did not leave you very much Not even laughter Like any dealer he was watching for the card That is so high and wild He’ll never need to deal another He was just some Joseph looking for a manger He was just some Joseph looking for a manger         And then leaning on your window sill He’ll say one day you caused his will To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter And  taking from his wallet An old schedule of trains he’ll say I told you when I came I was a stranger I told you when I came I was a stranger        But now another stranger seems To want you to ignore his dreams As though they were the burden of some other O you’ve seen that man before His golden arm dispatching cards But now it’s rusted from the elbows to the finger And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter.     I hate to watch another tired man Lay down his hand Like he was giving up the holy game of poker And while he talks his dreams to sleep You notice there’s a highway That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder. It is curling just like smoke above his shoulder. You tell him to come in sit down But something makes you turn around The door is open you can’t close your shelter You try the handle of the road It opens do not be afraid It’s you my love you who are the stranger It’s you my love you who are the stranger.        Well I’ve been waiting I was sure We’d meet between the trains we’re waiting for I think it’s time to board another Please understand I never had a secret chart To get me to the heart of this Or any other matter When he talks like this You don’t know what he’s after When he speaks like this You don’t care what he’s after.       Let’s meet tomorrow if you choose Upon the shore beneath the bridge that they are building on some endless river Then he leaves the platform For the sleeping car that’s warm You realize he’s only advertising one more shelter And it comes to you he never was a stranger And you say ok the bridge or someplace later.          And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind You find he did not leave you very much Not even laughter Like any dealer he was watching for the card That is so high and wild He’ll never need to deal another He was just some Joseph looking for a manger He was just some Joseph looking for a manger