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
And then sweeping
up the jokers
that he left behind
you'll 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
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
But now another
stranger seems to
want you to
ignore his dreams
As though they were
the burden
of some other
You've seen
that man before
His golden arm
dispatching cards
But now it's rusted
from the elbow
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
Ah you hate to watch
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's curling
just like smoke
above his shoulder
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 is you my love you
who are the stranger
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
While 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
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
some place later
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
And 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
I told you when I came
I was a stranger