It was an early morning barroom
And the place had just opened up
/
And a little man came in so fast
And he started at his cups
And the broad who served the whiskey
She was a big old friendly girl
/
Who tried to fight her empty nights
By smiling at the world
And she said "Hey, bub, it's been a while
Since you've been around
Where the hell you been hiding
And why you look so down
Well, the little man sat there
Like he'd never heard a sound
The waitress she gave out with a cough
And acting not the least put off she spoke once again
She said "I don't want to bother you
- / -
Consider it's understood
- / -
I know I'm not no beauty queen
But I sure can listen good
And the little man
Took his drink in his hand
And he raised it to his lips
He took a couple sips
And then he told the waitress this story
I am the midnight watchman down at Miller's Tool and Die
And I watch the metal rusting, I watch the time go by
A week ago at the diner I stopped to get a bite
And this here lovely lady she sat two seats from my right
/
And Lord, lord, lord, (Lord, Lord, Lord) she was alright
You see she was so damn beautiful that she could warm a winters frost
But she looked long past lonely and well nigh onto lost
Now I'm not much of a mover or a pick'em up easy guy
But I decided to glide on over and give her one good try
/
And Lord, lord, lord, (Lord, Lord, Lord) she was worth a try
Well I was tongue tied like a schoolboy, I stammered out some words
It did not seem to matter much 'cause I don't think she heard
She just looked clear on through me to a space back in my head
It shamed me into silence as quietly she said
If you want me to come with you
- / -
Then that's all right with me
- / -
'Cause I know I'm going no-where
And anywhere's a better place to be
- - - - / -
- - / -
Anywheres a better place to be
Well, I drove her to my boarding house
And I took her up to my room
/
And I went to turn on the only light
To brighten up the gloom
But she said, "Please leave the light off,
Oh, I don't mind the dark"
And as her clothes all tumbled 'round her
- - -
I could hear my heart
The moonlight shone upon her as she lay back in my bed
It was the kind of scene I only had imagined in my head
I just could not believe it to think that she was real
And as I tried to tell her, she said "Ssssh, I know just how you feel
And if you want to come here with me
- / -
Then that's all right with me
- / -
Cause I've been so lonely
Lovin' someone is a better way to be
- - - - / -
- - / -
Anywhere's a better place to be
Well the mornin' came so swiftly I held her in my arms
And she slept like a baby, snug and safe from harm
I did not want to share her or dare to break the mood
So before she woke I went out to buy us both some food
I came back with my paper bag to find that she was gone
She'd left a six-word letter sayin' "It's time that I moved on"
You know the waitress she took her bar rag and she wiped it across her eyes
/
And as she spoke her voice came out as something like a sigh
She said I wish that I was beautiful or that you were halfway blind
/
And I wish I weren't so God-damned fat, I wish that you were mine
And I wish that you'd come with me when I leave for home
For we both know all 'bout emptiness and livin' all alone
And the little man looked at the empty glass in his hand and he smiled a crooked grin
- -
He said "I guess I'm out of gin and I know we both have been so lonely
And if you want me to come with you then that's alright with me
- -
'Cause I know I'm going no-where and anywhere's a better place to be