And the newspapers all shuffled upwards, cos he had no ticket in his hand
by Cary Kembla
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SLOW TRAIN TO HEAVEN
In the scene with the singer
In a movie of white and black
Wept a lost and land bound sailor
With golden wings tattooed across his back
As she sang a song about a shipwreck
From the wrong side of the tracks
Yes it's a slow train to heaven
And it's a slow train to hell
You might be under the weather
And that might be just as well
In the coach car of the forgiven
Rode a preacher decked in black
And the newspapers all shuffled upwards
Cos he had no ticket in his hand
Over and over the waitress beckoned him
But when he turned, she'd turned her back
Yes it's a slow train to heaven
And it's a slow train to hell
You might be under the weather
And that might be just as well
Up ahead in the cabin
The engineer makes his stand
Against the visions rising before him
Of bodies on the track
He mouths the words engraved upon his hipflask
There ain't no turning back
Yes it's a slow train to heaven
And it's a slow train to hell
You might be under the weather
And that might be just as well
© 2017 Cary Kembla
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