Lyrics
PICTURE A BOY WITH ME, IN IOWA,
ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO;
WORKS AT THE FAM’LY GROC’RY STORE,
AND THAT’S THE STATUS QUO.
HE WENT TO COLLEGE FOR PIANO,
BUT HE GAVE UP ‘CAUSE HE COULDN’T PLAY.
HE LASTED A YEAR AT HOME,
BUT THEN JUST LIKE THAT DROVE AWAY.
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PICTURE ME STANDING IN GRAND CENTRAL
BY THE INFORMATION CLOCK.
THIS HAUNTED BOY FROM IOWA
WALKS UP AND STARTS TO TALK.
HE HAD JUST MOVED HERE, AND HE TOLD ME
ALL HE’D GONE THROUGH BEFORE COMING HERE.
HE ASKED ME FOR TWENTY BUCKS FOR LUNCH
THEN HE LEANED IN AND WHISPERED IN MY EAR:
“YOU’LL NEVER HEAR THE SOUND OF THE CROWD
OR THE TRAINS OR THE WIND OR THE CITY
IF YOU LISTEN TO ME.”
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PICTURE US WALKING FOR A BLOCK OR TWO
TO LAND IN BRYANT PARK.
WE OCCUPY A BENCH AND TALK
UNTIL IT STARTS TO GET TOO DARK.
HE ASKS AGAIN ABOUT THE MONEY,
AND I GIVE IN LIKE I HAVE NO CHOICE.
WE PROMISE TO MEET UP IN A WEEK,
BUT WHEN HE DOESN’T SHOW, I HEAR HIS VOICE:
“YOU’LL NEVER HEAR THE SOUND OF THE CROWD
OR THE TRAINS OR THE WIND OR THE CITY
IF YOU LISTEN TO ME.”
FOUR HOURS WITH A STRANGER ON A SATURDAY.
I WONDER WHERE HE WENT SOME TIMES,
BUT THAT THOUGHT FADES AWAY.
I’LL NEVER KNOW NOW.
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PICTURE LAST WEEKEND IN THE SUPERMARKET
WITH MY HUSBAND, ROY.
A TAP ON MY LEFT SHOULDER,
AND I TURN AND SEE THE BOY.
“WE’RE IN A GROC’RY STORE, GO FIGURE,”
AND WE BOTH LAUGH AT THE IRONY.
BUT THEN WHEN HE ASKS ME FOR MY NUMBER,
I TELL HIM TO LISTEN CLOSE TO ME:
“YOU’LL NEVER HEAR THE SOUND OF THE CROWD
OR THE TRAINS OR THE WIND OR OF
LIFE ON THE FLY IN THE CITY
‘CAUSE I’M SAYING GOODBYE.”
OOOO
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JEFFREY TALBOTT, WILLIAM VAN DYKE
Songtrust Ave