Better Place To Be

It was an early morning bar room

And the place just opened up

And the little man come in so fast and started at his cup

And the broad who served the whiskey

She was a big ol' friendly girl

And she tried to fight her empty nights by smiling at the world

And she said, "Hey, bub, it's been awhile"

"Since you've been around"

"Where the hell you been hidin'? And why ya look so down?"

But the little man just sat there like he'd never heard a sound

The waitress, she give out a cough

And acting not the least put off she spoke once again

She said, "I don't wanna bother you"

"Consider it's understood"

"I know I'm not no beauty queen, but I sure can listen good."

And the little man took his drink in his hands

And he raised it to his lips

He took a couple of sips

And he told the waitress this story

"I am the midnight watchman down at Miller's Tool and Die

And I watch the metal rusting

And I watch that time go by

A week ago at the diner, I stopped to get a bite

And this here lovely lady, she sat two seats from my right

And Lord, Lord, Lord she was alright

She was so damn beautiful she could warm a winter frost

But she was long past lonely, and well nigh' onto lost

Now I'm not much of a mover or a pick-up easy guy

But I decided to glide on over and give her one good try

And Lord, Lord, Lord she was worth a try

Tongue-tied like a schoolboy I stammered out some words

But it did not really matter much, 'cause I don't think sheheard

She just looked clear on through me

To a space back in my head

And it shamed me into silence as quietly she said

'If you want me to come with you, then that's alright with me

Cause I know I'm going nowhere

And anywhere's a better place to be'

I drove her to my boarding house and I took her up to my room

And I went to turn on the only light to brighten up the gloom

And she said 'Please, leave the light off

For I don't mind the dark

And as her clothes all tumbled 'round her

I could hear my heart'

The moonlight shone upon her as she laid back in my bed

It was the kind of scene I only had imagined in my head

I just could not believe it, to think that she was real

And as I tried to tell her she said

'Shhh....I know just how you feel

And if you want to come here with me

Then that's alright with me

Cause I've been oh, so lonely

Lovin' someone is a better way to be'

Morning came so swiftly, asI held her in my arms

And she slept like a baby, snug and safe from harm

I did not want to share her with the world or break the mood

So before she woke I went out and brought us both some food

I come back with my paper bag

To find that she was gone

She'd left a six word letter

Sayin 'It's time that I moved on'."

The waitress took her bar rag

And she wiped it across her eyes

And as she spoke her voice came out

As something like a sigh

She said, "I wish that I was beautiful

Or that you were halfway blind

And I wish I weren't so doggone fat

I wish that you were mine

And I wish that you'd come with me

When I leave for home

For we both know all about loneliness and livin' all alone"

And the little man looked at the empty glass in his hand

And he smiled a crooked grin

He said, "I guess I'm out of gin

And I know we both have been so lonely

And if you want me to come with you then that's alright with me

'Cause I know I'm goin' nowhere

And anywhere's a better place to be"