Paul Simon: Trailways Bus

(Paul Simon)

LAZARUS
A passenger traveling quietly conceals himself
With a magazine and a sleepless pillow
Over the crest of the mountain the moon begins
its climb
And he wakes to find he's in rolling farmland

The farmer sleeps against his wife
He wonders what their life must be
A Trailways bus is heading south
Into Washington, D.C.

A mother and child, the baby maybe two
months old
Prepare themselves for sleep and feeding.
The shadow of the Capitol dome slides across
his face
And his heart is racing with the urge to freedom.

The father motionless as stone,
A shepherd resting with his flock,
The Trailways bus is turning west -
Dallas via Little Rock.

WAHZINAK
O my darling, darling Sal
The desert moon is my witness.
I've no money to come East,
But I know you'll soon be here

LAZARUS
We pull into downtown Dallas by the side of the
Grassy Knoll
Where the leader fell and a town was broken.
Away from the feel and flow of life for so
many years
He hears music playing and Spanish spoken

The border patrol outside of Tucson boarded
the bus

BORDER PATROLMAN
Any aliens here? You better check with us,
How about you son?
You look like you got Spanish blood.
Do you 'Habia Ingles,' am I understood?

SAL
Yes, I am an alien, from Mars.
I come to earth from outer space.
And if I traveled my whole life
You guys would still be on my case
You guys would still be on my case

LAZARUS
But he can't leave his fears behind,
He recalls each fatal thrust
The screams carried by the wind,
Phantom figures in the dust
Phantom figures in the dust
Phantom figures in the dust.