sirens blow the silence away

in the streets where the dogs & the drunkards play

in the city where the cats & the cowards say

take me away, take me away

trainwheels rumble the rumours away

of the pleas & the tears that old lovers trade

of the noises that the old & the dying make

take me away, take me away

you know there were nights when her eyes

held all the tumblers falling right

and days breaking over loving

when you wanted to deny the light

now night’s a deeper darkness

and there’s no one to grant you sight

to grab your fear

ain’t no one here

take it away, take it away

closed eyes call the lonely away

from the empty arms that clutch at strands of the day

from the silent hours that run too cold, deep, & grey

take me away, take me away

1979