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.

*There is no place in this world for me; I've looked. Searched and asked and wanted and needed and I've found nothing. Nothing but you, and you don't want me. Never did, never will.*

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.

*This soul, this man, this demon and this hopeless love for you, we're playing poker and waiting for the end. I've tried. Tried to meet the sun, drink the water of god, embrace the son, partake of the blessed rowan. But I can't. My life is yours, not mine. There is no reprieve but by your hand.*

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 then 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.

*You are the word made flesh; I am the flesh made word. Word waiting to be spoken, waiting to be made real by your blessing. Anoint me, Father; bring me to being, Sire; take me as yours, Lover. Anything, please.*

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.

*Tomorrow, I'm doing it. Getting in this damned De Soto and coming to you. Coming to face you, to hear my coda. Closure; I know I have no right, but when did I ever? As you've said, it's my way to demand, to want what I have not earned.*

Ah you hate to see 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.

*Will you give it to me? This rest, this first step into the hell that's waiting for me? Can you forgive me enough for that at least? I don't expect any more than that; the time for love is past, I cannot earn it--if I ever could have.*

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.

*And then you'll be freer, lighter and that much closer to human, without this your wretched creation sullying the world you so love. My dust will be a welcome thing.*

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 know what he's after.

*I found the perfect patience of mountains somewhere in the Canadian Rockies. It flows through my veins where blood used to; that sour fluid is no longer a part of me. Like liquor and cigarettes, I've shed my last bad habit. If vampires stop drinking blood, do we become less evil?*

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 ...

And leaning on your window sill ...

I told you when I came I was a stranger.

*I love you, Angel. Goodbye.*