Casey's Last Ride
Casey's Last Journey: Echoes of Desperation and Longing
Lyrics
Casey joins the hollow sound of silent people walking down
Casey becomes part of the silent crowd walking down.
The stairway to the subway in the shadows down below
He descends the subway stairway in the shadows below.
Following their footsteps through the neon-darkened corridors
Casey follows the footsteps in neon-darkened corridors.
Of silent desperation, never speakin' to a soul
Describes a state of silent desperation, avoiding communication.
The poison air he's breathin' has the dirty smell of dying
The air he breathes is poisonous, carrying the smell of decay.
'Cause it's never seen the sunshine and it's never felt the rain
Refers to an environment untouched by sunshine or rain.
But Casey minds the arrows and ignores the fatal echoes
Casey is attentive to warnings and ignores ominous sounds.
Of the clickin' of the turnstiles and the rattle of his chains
References the turnstiles and chains, emphasizing confinement.
"Oh!" she said, "Casey it's been so long since I've seen you!"
A person greets Casey, expressing a longing to see him.
"Here" she said, "just a kiss to make a body smile!"
The person offers a kiss to bring joy to Casey's life.
"See" she said, "I've put on new stockings just to please you!"
She mentions wearing new stockings to please Casey.
"Lord!" she said, "Casey can you only stay a while?"
Expresses a desire for Casey to stay a while.
Casey leaves the under-ground and stops inside the Golden Crown
Casey leaves the underground and enters the Golden Crown.
For something wet to wipe away the chill that's on his bone
He seeks something to warm himself inside the pub.
Seeing his reflection in the lives of all the lonely men
Reflects on the lives of lonely men reaching for solace.
Who reach for any thing they can to keep from goin' home
People grasp for anything to avoid returning home.
Standin' in the corner Casey drinks his pint of bitter
Casey stands in a corner, drinking a bitter pint.
Never glancing in the mirror at the people passing by
He avoids looking in the mirror at passing people.
Then he stumbles as he's leaving and he wonders if the reason
Casey stumbles, questioning if it's the beer or tears causing it.
Is the beer that's in his belly, or the tear that's in his eye
The reason for stumbling is pondered - beer or emotional pain.
"Oh!" she said, "I suppose you seldom think about me
A woman comments on Casey seldom thinking about her.
"Now" she said, "now that you've a fam'ly of your own"
She acknowledges Casey having a family of his own now.
"Still" she said, "it's so blessed good to feel your body!"
Expresses the pleasure of feeling Casey's body despite his family.
"Lord!" she said" "Casey it's a shame to be alone!"
The woman laments Casey's loneliness, considering it a shame.
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