END OF THE LINE
On the penultimate stop, where the tracks thin in the vast darkness of the cold northern border, a man steps aboard in a swirl of misting rain and snow – wearing a swagger that carries his wide brimmed hat and rattle snake boots to the empty seats of four. Before sitting, he looks aft and smiles to the darkened empty car and gently removes his guitar from his back.
As the train moans through the steep ascents and accelerates through the coniferous forest valleys, the man begins to strum. The soft acoustic rhythm that is carried above the rattling of the frozen tracks awakens however, none who sleep. It is the words from his soulful lips, in those next many miles that left a lasting image and so did resonate….
‘Oh my dear and so precious one
know here and hear me now
how His was the hand
that caught me when I fell
Seemed forever just to say
that all would be well
all would be well
all would be well
The Lord’s plan my darling it didn’t have to be mine
such was just the way with the mighty Divine
All the way to the end of the line
to the end of the line
the end of the line
end of the line
In the end his battle, well
that couldn’t be won
His body riddled
weary and worn
an inner strength
still did exist
refused and could never be torn
All the way to the end of the line
to the end of the line
the end of the line
end of the line
These years now well
they’ve come and past so damn fast
I can’t sometimes even barely look back
Just doing my best
to stay on close to the track
All the way to the end of the line
to the end of the line
So within these strong weathered hands,
born upon this vast and toiled land
I hold these leathered reins
Oh Lord you know
there’s a strength to be found
in these veins
All the way to the end of the line
to the end of the line
Come now then my son
come on and take my hand
come take my hand
Let’s keep riding on through our given night
and cross that river to a higher ground
Leave these here dry’n tears
never to be found
Let a cold rain cleanse this pain
forever from our souls
exhaust its very existence
from our sight
All the way to the end of the line
to the end of the line
Come this dawn’s awakened arrival
we shall
we shall again once say
we knew
we knew
that all would be well
all would be well
Darling my dear
and so precious one
know right here
hear me now
that this ain’t no end of the line
Son, this ain’t the end of the line
this ain’t no end of the line
ain’t the end of the line.’
Baby, this ain’t no end of the line
this ain’t the end of the line
ain’t no end of the line
ain’t the end of the line. . . ’
Sent from Rail 📞 . . .
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