Corey's Coming Long

Open: Old John Joseph was a man with two first names They left him in the railroad yard when they took away the trains And only one run a week comes on roarin' down that line So all he's got to worry about is time He sits in the breakhouse, his hands out to the fire Movin' through his memories of love and desire Tellin' me the stories of the glories of his past But he always saves the story of his Corey for the last And he says, my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl? And like I told you, when she holds you She enfolds you in her world I'd come by in the evening to find out where he'd been He'd say come on sit down kid, where shall I begin? And I'd say you know my favorite, though you know I like the rest But I love the way you tell me of your Corey the best And so I'd hear his life long love recreated by his tongue He'd turn back the years, she'd seem forever young Though the other stories changed as they rolled through his head He'd say the same words about Corey just before he went to bed And then he'd send me away but he'd be smiling as he said Can't you see, my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl? And like I told you, when she holds you She enfolds you in her world I was quite surprised to find out all the places that he knew So I asked the townfolk if his stories were true They said Old John was born here, he's lived here all his life He never had a woman, let alone a wife And very soon you'll find out, as you check around That no one named Corey's ever lived in this town So I chided the old man about the truth that I had heard He smiled and said reality is only just a word Can't you see, my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl? And like I told you, when she holds you She enfolds you in her world I came by one evening but he did not hear my shout I looked in the window and I saw the fire was out When he would not wake up I forced in the door And I found that old John Joseph would tell stories........ no more The scene at the graveyard just three of us were there Me and the grave digger we heard the parson's prayer NO CHORD He said we need not grieve for this man For we know that God cares They put the cold dirt over him and left me on my own When at last I looked up I saw I was not alone Standing there in silence, with a shawl around her head Was a beautiful young woman, I remember what she said Is that John Joseph there? I nodded my head yes That brought a soft smile from her She said it's time he got some rest So I said if you're a relative he had a peaceful end That's when she said my name is Corey You could say I'm just a friend Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl? And like I told you, when she holds you She enfolds you in her world So that's the old man's story, I'm glad you came tonight You see a busted down old railroad yard sure makes a lonely site You may wonder why a young man would work out here alone The job pays enough to keep some flesh on my bones And I confess I get to missing the old man a bit Yes there's one other reason I guess I could admit Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl? And like he told me, when she holds you She enfolds me in her world