Corey's Coming - Harry Chapin

Old John Joseph was a man with two first names

They left him in the railroad yard when they took away the trains

And only one run a week comes on roaring down that line

So all he got to worry 'bout is time

I come by in the evening, to hear 'bout where he’s been

He says «Come on, sit down kid.

Where shall I begin?»

He starts tellin' me the stories of the glories of his past

But he always saves the story of his Corey for the last

And he says my Corey’s coming

No more sad stories, coming

My midnight, moonlight, morning glory’s coming, aren’t ya girl?

And like I told you, when she holds you, she enfolds you in her world

I was quite surprised to find out all the places that he knew

And so I asked the towns folk if his stories were true

«Well,» they said, «old John was born here, he’s lived here all his life

He’s never had a woman, let alone a wife

And very soon you’ll find out, as you check around

That no one named Corey’s ever lived in this town

So I chided the old man 'bout the truth that i had heard

But he smiled and said, «Reality is only just a word.»

Can’t you see my Corey’s coming

No more sad stories, coming

My midnight, moonlight, morning glory’s coming, aren’t ya girl?

And like I told you, when she holds you, she enfolds you in her world

I came by one evening, but he did not hear my shout

I looked in the window and I saw the fire was out

When he would not wake up, I forced in the door

And I saw that old John Joseph would tell stories no more

The scene at the graveyard, just three of us were there

Me and the grave digger, we heard the parson’s prayer

He said, «We need not grieve for this man, for we know that God cared.»

They put the cold dirt over him, and left me on my own

And when at last I looked up, I saw I was not alone

So I said, «If you’re a relative, he had a peaceful end.»

That’s when she said, «My name is Corey, you can say I’m just a friend.»

Corey’s coming

No more sad stories, coming

My midnight, moonlight, morning glory’s coming, aren’t ya girl?

And like I told you, when she holds you, she enfolds you in her world

So that’s the old man’s story, I’m glad you came tonight

You see a busted down old railroad yard sure makes a lonely sight

You may wonder why a young man would work out here alone

Well the job pays enough to keep some flesh on my bones

And, I confess, I get to missing the old man a bit

And theres one other reason, I guess I could admit

Can’t you see my Corey’s coming

No more sad stories, coming

My midnight, moonlight, morning glory’s coming, aren’t ya girl?

And like he told me, when she holds me, she enfolds me in her world