Old John Joseph was a man with two first names

They left him in the railroad yard when they took away the trains

Only one run a week comes on roaring down that line

So all he's got to worry 'bout is time.



I come by in the evening to hear 'bout where he's been

He says - Come on sit down Kid, where shall I begin?

He starts telling me the stories of the glories of his past

But he always saves the story of his Corey for the last.



And he says - My Corey's coming. 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.



I was quite surprised to find out all the places that he knew

And so I asked the townfolk if his stories were true

They said - Old John was born here, he's lived here all his life

He's 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

He smiled and said - Reality is only just a word.



I came by one evening but he did not hear my shout

I looked in the window and saw the fire was out

When he would not wake up I forced in the door

And found that Old John Joseph would tell stories no more.



The scene at the graveyard, three of us were there

Me and the gravedigger heard the parson's prayer

He said - We need not grieve for this man,

For we know that God cares!



They put the cold dirt over him and left me on my own

And when at last I looked up I saw I was not alone

So I said - If you're a relative, he had a peaceful end.

She said - My name is Corey - you can say I'm j