Marie
Townes Van Zandt/Guy Clark Lyrics

stood in line and left my name
I waited in line to make an application

took about six hours or so
The wait was excruciatingly long

Well, the man just grinned like it was all a game
The man in charge seemed indifferent and unsympathetic to my plight

said they'd let me know
I was not given a clear answer or timeline for my application's processing

I put in my time till the Pocono line
I worked hard until the Pocono line shut down

shut down two years ago
It has been two years since the Pocono line shut down

I was staying at the mission till I met Marie
I lived at the mission until I met Marie

now I can't stay there no more
I can no longer stay at the mission

Fella 'cross town said he's lookin' for a man
A man across town is seeking for someone's help

to move some old cars around
The job involves moving old cars from one place to another

maybe me and Marie could find a burned-out van and do a little settlin' down
Marie and I could make a home out of a burned-out van if we had the chance

Aw, but I'm just dreamin', I ain't got no ride
I'm only dreaming because I don't have a vehicle to move the cars around

and the junkyard's a pretty good ways
The distance to the junkyard is too far to walk

that job's about a half week old besides
The job posting is already old - it's been around for half a week

it'd be gone now anyway
The job posting is most likely gone by now

Unemployment said I got no more checks
I was informed by Unemployment that I could not receive any more checks

and they showed me to the hall
Unemployment office directed me to a hall

my brother died in Georgia some time ago
My brother passed away in Georgia some time ago

I got no one left to call
I don't have anyone else to turn to for help

Summer wasn't bad below the bridge
I survived the summer living below the bridge

a little short on food that's all
I had a shortage of food

Now I gotta get Marie some kind of coat
I must find a way to provide a coat for Marie

we're headed down into fall
Fall is coming, and we need to prepare for it

I used to play the mouth harp pretty good
I was once skilled at playing the harmonica

hustled up a little dough
I managed to earn some money

but I got drunk and I woke up rolled
I drank too much and was robbed in my intoxicated state

a couple of months ago
It happened a few months back

they got my harp and they got my dollar
Not only did they rob me, but they also took my harmonica and money

them low life so and so's
I have no kind words for the people who took advantage of me

harps cost money and I ain't got it
I can't afford to replace my stolen harmonica

it's my own fault I suppose
I acknowledge that I am partly responsible for my situation

The Pocono's down but the Chesapeak's runnin'
The Pocono's closed, but the Chesapeake is still operating

two freights everyday
The Chesapeake has two freight trains running every day

if it was just me I'd be headed south
If I were alone, I would get on a train heading south

but Marie can't catch no train
Marie isn't able to travel by train

She's got some pain and she thinks it's a baby,
Marie is experiencing pain and suspects that she might be pregnant

says we gotta wait and see
We must wait and confirm if Marie is actually pregnant

in my heart I know it's a little boy
I believe that Marie is pregnant with a boy

hope he don't end up like me
I hope my son has a better life and doesn't end up like me

Well, the man's still grinnin' says he lost my file
The man who processed my application is still grinning and claims to have lost my file

I gotta stand in line again
I have to queue up again to apply for the same thing

I want to kill him but I just say no
I feel like killing him, but I restrain myself and decide not to

I had enough of that line my friend
I'm fed up with waiting in the line

I head back to the bridge, its getting kinda cold
I go back to the bridge, and it's getting colder

I'm feelin' too low down to lie
I don't feel well enough to pretend to be okay

I guess I'll just tell Marie the truth
I decide that I will tell Marie the truth about my application experience

hope she don't break down and cry
I hope that Marie doesn't become overwhelmed and cry

Marie she didn't wake up this morning
Marie didn't wake up this morning

she didn't even try
She didn't even make an effort to wake up

she just rolled over and went to heaven
Marie passed away

my little boy safe inside
Our son is safe inside Marie's womb

I laid them in the sun where somebody'd find them
I placed Marie and our son's bodies in a visible location, hoping someone would find them

caught a Chesapeak on the fly
I caught a pass on a moving Chesapeake train

Marie will know I'm headed south
I believe Marie will understand that I'm heading south

so's to meet me by and by
I believe that Marie and I will meet someday