Corey’s Coming (Live)

[Intro]
It's a song about an old man with a dream and a young boy who buys it, and it's called "Corey's Coming."

One two, one two three four

[Verse 1]
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
He sits in the break house, his hands out to the fire
Moving through his memories of love and desire
Telling me the stories of the glories of his past
But he always saves the story of his Corey for the last

[Chorus]
And he says my Corey's coming
I've no more sad stories coming
My midnight moonlight morning glory's coming, aren't you girl?
And like I told you, when she holds you
She enfolds you in her world

[Verse 2]
I'd come by in the evening to find out where he'd been
And he'd say, "Come on, sit down, kid. Where shall I begin?"
And I'd say, " You know my favorite, though you know I like the rest
But I love the way you tell me of your Corey the best"
And so I'd hear his lifelong love recreated by his tongue
He'd turn back the years, she'd seem forever young
Though the other stories changed as they rolled through his head
He'd say the same words 'bout Corey just before he went to bed
And then he'd send me away but he'd be smiling as he said

[Chorus]
Can't you see my Corey's coming? (Corey's coming)
No more sad stories coming
My midnight moonlight morning glory's coming, aren't you girl?
And like I told you (Corey's coming), when she holds you
She enfolds you in her world

[Verse 3]
I was quite surprised to find out all the places that he knew
So I asked the townsfolk if his stories were true
Well they said old John was born here, he's lived here all his life
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
Well, he smiled and said, "Reality is only just a word"

[Chorus]
Can't you see my Corey's coming? (Corey's coming)
I've no more sad stories coming
My midnight moonlight morning glory's coming, aren't you girl?
And like I told you (Corey's coming), when she holds you
She enfolds you in her world

[Bridge]
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, well I forced in the door
And I found that old John Joseph would tell stories no more
There was the scene at the graveyard: just three of us were there
There was me and the gravedigger and we heard the parson's prayer
He said, "We need not grieve for this man
For we know that God cares"

[Verse 4]
Well, they put the cold dirt over him, left me on my own
When at last I looked up I saw I was not alone
Standing there in silence with a shawl around her head
Was a beautiful young woman, I remember what she said
"Is that John Joseph there?"
I nodded my head yes
That brought a soft smile from her
She said, "It's time he, he got some rest"
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"

[Chorus]
Corey's coming
No more sad stories coming
My midnight moonlight morning glory's coming, aren't you girl?
Yes, and like I told you, when she holds you
She enfolds you in her world

[Verse 5]
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
Yes, there's one other reason I guess I could admit

[Chorus]
Can't you see my Corey's coming? (Corey's coming)
I've no more sad stories coming
My midnight moonlight morning glory's coming, aren't you girl?
Yes, and like he told me (Corey's coming), when she holds me
She enfolds me in her world