Lyrics
Casey joins the hollow sound of silent people walking down
Casey is part of the quiet crowd walking down, possibly reflecting a sense of emptiness or solitude.
The stairway to the subway in the shadows down below
The setting is a subway stairway in the shadows below, suggesting a dark and hidden environment.
Following their footsteps through the neon-darkened corridors
Casey follows others in the dimly lit corridors, hinting at a shared journey in a desolate place.
Of silent desperation, never speakin' to a soul
People in this place are desperate, unwilling to communicate with each other.
The poison air he's breathin' has the dirty smell of dying
The air Casey breathes is toxic, symbolizing a bleak and unhealthy atmosphere.
'Cause it's never seen the sunshine and it's never felt the rain
The environment has never experienced joy or sorrow, emphasizing its lifelessness.
But Casey minds the arrows and ignores the fatal echoes
Casey pays attention to danger but ignores the inevitable consequences of his actions.
Of the clickin' of the turnstiles and the rattle of his chains
The mechanical sounds of turnstiles and chains surround Casey, suggesting a lack of freedom.
"Oh!" she said, "Casey it's been so long since I've seen you!"
A voice, possibly someone from Casey's past, expresses surprise and longing.
"Here" she said, "just a kiss to make a body smile!"
A gesture of affection is offered to bring happiness to Casey.
"See" she said, "I've put on new stockings just to please you!"
The woman has made an effort to please Casey, possibly indicating a history between them.
"Lord!" she said, "Casey can you only stay a while?"
The woman questions Casey's ability to stay, suggesting a fleeting encounter.
Casey leaves the under-ground and stops inside the Golden Crown
Casey leaves the underground, seeking solace in a place called the Golden Crown.
For something wet to wipe away the chill that's on his bone
He seeks something to warm him from the cold, emphasizing a sense of isolation.
Seeing his reflection in the lives of all the lonely men
Casey sees his reflection among lonely men, implying a shared struggle.
Who reach for any thing they can to keep from goin' home
Others grasp at anything to avoid returning home, possibly indicating troubled lives.
Standin' in the corner Casey drinks his pint of bitter
Casey stands alone, consuming a bitter drink, detached from those around him.
Never glancing in the mirror at the people passing by
He avoids looking in the mirror, possibly due to a reluctance to confront himself.
Then he stumbles as he's leaving and he wonders if the reason
Casey stumbles and questions the cause, connecting it to the beer or inner sorrow.
Is the beer that's in his belly, or the tear that's in his eye
There's uncertainty about whether Casey's emotional state is influenced by alcohol or personal pain.
"Oh!" she said, "I suppose you seldom think about me
A woman reflects on Casey's lack of thoughts about her, possibly hinting at a past relationship.
"Now" she said, "now that you've a fam'ly of your own"
She acknowledges Casey's new family but expresses the enduring connection between them.
"Still" she said, "it's so blessed good to feel your body!"
The woman finds joy in Casey's presence, suggesting a complex emotional bond.
"Lord!" she said" "Casey it's a shame to be alone!"
The woman regrets Casey's loneliness, emphasizing the theme of isolation throughout the lyrics.
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