Trailways Bus lyrics

Song information

Artist: Paul Simon
Album: Songs From Capeman

Lyrics

Lazarus
A passenger traveling quietly conceals himself
With a magazine and a sleepless pillow
Over the crest of the mountain the moon begins its climb
And he wakes to find he's in rolling farmland

The farmer sleeps against his wife
He wonders what their life must be
A trailways bus is heading south
Into washington, d.c

A mother and child, the baby maybe two months old
Prepare themselves for sleep and feeding
The shadow of the capitol dome slides across his face
And his heart is racing with the urge to freedom

The father motionless as stone
A shepherd resting with his flock
The trailways bus is turning west-
Dallas via little rock

Wahzinak
O my darling, darling sal
The desert moon is my witness
I've no money to come east
But I know you'll soon be here

Lazarus
We pull into downtown dallas by the side of the grassy knoll
Where the leader fell and a town was broken
Away from the feel and flow of life for so many years
He hears music playing and spanish spoken

The border patrol outside of tucson boarded the bus

Border patrolman
Any aliens here? you better check with us
How about you son?
You look like you got spanish blood
Do you 'habla ingles,' am I understood?

Sal
Yes, I am an alien, from mars
I come to earth from outer space
And if I traveled my whole life
You guys would still be on my case
You guys would still be on my case

Lazarus
But he can't leave his fears behind
He recalls each fatal thrust
The screams carried by the wind
Phantom figures in the dust
Phantom figures in the dust
Phantom figures in the dust

Lead vocal, acoustic guitar-paul simon
Vocal-sara ramirez
Guitar-vincent nguini
Guitar, acoustic guitar solo-arlen roth
Pedal steel-robby turner
Bass-bakithi kumalo
Trumpet-bill holloman
Accordion-mike ramos
Fender rhodes-oriente lopez
Shaker-crusher bennett
Drums-shannon ford