The Diplomat

He slowly raised the trembling hand
Gently brushed the silver strand of
Hair from his wrinkled brow
Lips that used to talk so free the eyes
That used to beckon me were silent now
He listens to a passing train, gives
Into an old familiar pain, familiar pain
They retired him twenty years ago
Gave him a watch made of
Gold and took his train
His woman's name was Margaret
He loved her but she went away
And left his heart undone
He called this train the Diplomat
She's the only other lady that he ever loved
Some forty years he made the steam
From Memphis down to New Orleans but
Now he's off the line
And the closest that he ever gets Margaret
Or the Diplomat is in his mind
He said, take me to the station
The Diplomat is bringing Margaret home
Can't you hear that whistle
Blowing? They both know
I've been alone for much too long
Let's not keep them waiting
We'll talk about the good times later on
Right now take me to the station
The Diplomat is bringing Margaret home
They say he talks crazy when
He sees the passing train or
When he hears Margaret's name
But the only things he ever loved
He lost before he loved enough
He's not to blame
So who's to say he's right or wrong
Reaching out and hanging on to
Dreams he can't let go
He threw the watch of gold away but
Keeps tracks of memories where he belongs
He said, take me to the station
They retired him twenty years ago
Gave him a watch made of gold
And took daddy's train