Joe Henry - Civilians lyrics
rate meThe carriage horses stamp and fume
Until all color's gone,
They leave the street in black and white
And bring the eventing coming on.
Lovers tug heir way out of gloves
Out of shoes, and gray chiffon,
The driver pulls his blanket igh
And pretends to look beyond.
Oh, pray for you, pray for me.
Sing it like a song -
Life is sort but, by the grace of God,
This night is long
Girls crowd into bathroom stalls
The boys smoke in their cars,
The general, he's in civilian clothes
Standing at the bar.
He waves at the deaf flower lady
"Come sit by me, sweetheart,"
He draws a napkin battle plan
Says, "this is where we start"
Oh, pray for you, pray for me.
Sing it like a song -
Life is sort but, by the grace of God,
This night is long
There are no more hummingbirds
Like there used to be
They're fat and slow and careless now
They've turned blue and mean.
And the parrots sound like monkets
Screamin from the treets,
As the decent people
Fumble for their keys...
We used to spend the night in town
Down by city hall,
And the water works of Irish Beach
Just below the falls.
We'd walk down to the Park Hotel
Past the Bapist Veteran's Mall
Back then, a man in uniform
Might mean anything at all
Oh, pray for you, pray for me
Sing it like a song -
Life is short but, by the grace or cruel
Heart of God,
The night is long
