Garbage day north side of Chicago
Dark smoke diesels scream right past
She looks for the words - but never quite sure
And I'm waiting for the wind to blow
The smell of hope far from my nose
The engine in this dream starts to go
And I'm trying hard to hear her
But I don't quite have the nerve
Because what she said I have never had the ears for
Now love is on the table
And he's had one to many beers
And he's laughin' in my face
And spittin' with every word
She was holdin' out, he was movin' on
Has got me wonderin' how, these things turn out so wrong
Our conversations been stained with coffee
I'm lookin' at an empty cup
With Townes Van Zandt ringing in my ears
Walked down to the shores of Great Lake Michigan
And try my best to shoot down a reason
Find that target, I just can't hit
So I ask about her family
Try my damnedest not to care
Cause I loved her once and I never will forget
We traipsed across those mountain tops
Played old soul songs from that jukebox
In that gritty northern bar miles and years from here
She was holdin' out, he was movin' on
Has got me wonderin' how, these things turn out so wrong
History is a live and well
He spent last night with Lefty in a keep motel
And he's a little bit tired and a little bit upset
I got to ask for forgiveness
I know he don't just freely give it
I got a chance to pony up for a decent meal
History, Love, and Desire they're playing poker Texas style
With cards printed right off my chest
Desire she goes all in with a pair deuces and bluffers grin
And Love is folding pocket kings again
Desire thinks she can work her king
But History won't be shamed
He's gonna send her home without a penny or a dime
She was holdin' out, he was movin' on
Has got me wonderin' how, these things turn out so wrong X2