I stood in line and left my name
Took about six hours or so
Well, the man just grinned like it was all a game
Said they'd let me know

I put in my time till the Pocono line
Shut down two years ago
I was staying at the mission till I met Marie
Now I can't stay there no more

Fella across town said he's looking for a man
To move some old cars around
Maybe me and Marie could find a burned-out van
And do a little settling down

But I'm just dreaming—I ain't got no ride
And the junkyard's a pretty good ways
That job's about a half-week old besides
It'd be gone now anyway

Unemployment says I got no more checks
And they showed me to the hall
My brother died in Georgia some time ago
I got no one left to call

Summer wasn't bad below the bridge
A little short on food, that's all
Now I gotta get Marie some kind of coat
We're headed down into fall
I used to play the mouth harp pretty good
Hustled up a little dough
But I got drunk and I woke up rolled
A couple of months ago

They got my harp and they got my dollar
Them lowlife so-and-sos
Harps cost money and I ain't got it
It's my own fault, I suppose

The Pocono's down, but the Chesapeake's running
Two freights everyday
If it was just me, I'd be headed south
But Marie can't catch no train

She's got some pain and she thinks it's a baby
Says we gotta wait and see
In my heart, I know it's a little boy
Hope he don't end up like me

Well, the man's still grinning, said he lost my file
I gotta stand in line again
I want to kill him, but I just say "No
I had enough of that line, my friend"

I head back to the bridge, it's getting kinda cold
I'm feeling too low down to lie
I guess I'll just tell Marie the truth
Hope she don't break down and cry
Marie, she didn't wake up this morning
She didn't even try
She just rolled over and went to Heaven
My little boy safe inside

I laid them in the sun where somebody'd find them
Caught a Chesapeake on the fly
Marie will know I'm headed south
So as to meet me by and by
Marie'll know I'm headed south
So to meet me by and by