Messing With The Settings

Introduction, setting the stage for the narrative.

Expressing a feeling of disconnection or detachment, as if riding a train he is not physically on.

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Describing a past experience with someone in a place, highlighting her fading grace and belief in an industry that seemed senseless.

And she'd stare off into space

And draw smokestacks on her placemat

She had a dwindling grace, and a faith in the industry

That never really made sense to me

Recalling moments of searching for funds and observing the flag twisting, indicating a sense of aimlessness.

Trying to come up with the funds

For some phone number friend in some idling car

She said, "this probably isn't where I see myself forever

But for now it's pretty much where we are"

I never really argued with her basic observations

'Cause I wasn't super into confrontation back then

I was mostly just about sitting by the window

Watching the flag in the front just twisting

And twisting, and twisting

Reflecting on the scars as markers of experience and mentioning Rachel's advice to "mess with the settings" rather than settling.

We can only sing the songs we've been taught to

Rachel always recommended messing with the settings

She said it's better than settling for whatever they give you

Reiteration of the disconnection or feeling of being on a train he's not physically riding.

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Introducing Rachel's practical habits, rituals, and the age difference between them, with a focus on the 1980s.

She said she didn't have habits, they're rituals

She threw salt over her shoulder when they rang for last orders

She held her breath when she got up from the table

And it never really mattered that she was twelve years older

Except for when we talked about the 1980s

Recalling legal issues and the judge noticing patterns, emphasizing the feeling at sundown.

While she was trying to hold on to her baby

She started out teasing me, calling me her partner in crime

'Cause neither one of us were supposed to be in the taverns

I had a suspended license and a court case coming up

And the judge said he was seeing some patterns

Describing the sensation at sundown, with a touch on Friday's activities and magical thinking.

That all-in-one sensation of speeding and sinking"

Friday's making eyes at guys cashing their checks

And other forms of magical thinking

Reiteration of the feeling at sundown, riding a train not physically on.

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Narrating a personal journey involving legal trouble, a move, and attempts to reconnect with Rachel.

Went off to the workhouse for thirty-eight days

When I got out, I drove out to my brother's in Denver

He got me a job at the golf course, I decided to stay there

I heard she'd been living off more of the same

That she got with that guy that took IDs at the door

Must have been last winter when I finally tried to text her

The number I had didn't go through anymore

Receiving unexpected contact from Sam, detailing the return after eight years and observing changes in the city, connecting it to Rachel's faith.

Asked if I could be here, told me what did it

It's my first trip back after eight years in Denver

I drove in from the west, the city looks different now

All those luxury lofts that they built in the old factories

Reminded me of her faith in the industry

Rachel did her best with the deal she'd been dealt

And that's what I've got for a eulogy

Final reiteration of the sundown feeling, emphasizing the disconnect from a train he's not physically on, concluding with a reflection on Rachel's life.

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on

Sundown, it feels like I'm riding a train I'm not on