Rust River Valley Rail Crossing Three, Pop. 527
#45 of poetry
I have never met a sad folk song that I didn't want to rewrite to be sadder.
From the valley they say you are going
I can see why you would. And I know
As the slow grinding years
Grind the hills into tears
Each year grinds a little more slow.
From this valley they say you are going.
From this hopeless collection of rust.
This town takes its tolls,
This place breaks our souls,
In return for a handful of dust.
Oh they say you are taking the sunshine
If that's true, take as much as you may.
Take the wind. Take the rain.
Take the 2 AM train.
Don't look back till you're fully away.
Let me sit by your side, if you love me
Or if you do not. I won't care.
Let the stories I'll dream
Of what love might have been
Sustain me when you are not there.
So let me believe that you loved me
As we hasten to bid last adieu.
If you do not deny,
Why then I will get by
When it will make no difference to you.
From this valley I'm glad you are going.
Would that I knew how to go too.
Just remember my face
Off in some better place
When you have nothing better to do.
The one decent thing in this valley
Was the way that it let me love you.
So if aught you remember, let it be
The one who has loved you so true.