The Holy Man On Malibu Bus Number Three

when i was two years old

in my mother's arms

on the malibu bus number three

a holy man laid his hand on my head

and said i see i see i see

this here child

she's got two diff'rent eyes

one is dark and one is light

one looks out at the morning

one looks in at the night

some see smiles or some see tears

some see sun or some see rain

but the child who sees both at once

is the child who is destined for pain

i was just two at the time

but i remember him well

when i am lost and lonely

i look for him in religious books

to find his face again

to find his face again

perhaps i will some time

he was hungry

and asked for a quarter

he was so hungry

and asked for a quarter

my mother gave him a dime

he blessed her generous contribution

and then he headed for the door

and he said i got to transfer now

to the bus

the bus number four

i been down to the depot

to look for number four

the station master shook his head

and said four don't run no more no more no more

i ride the malibu bus almost every day

but no one's seen or heard of him

no one's seen or heard of him

(my mother died last may)

he had the nicest smile

just like a silver star

it lit up malibu bus number three

but i don't have two diff'rent eyes

as far as i can see

the right one looks with the body

the left one sees with the soul

that was the very last thing

i heard him say

before he took his transfer

and was on his way

he crossed the road to number four

but number four didn't run any more

i don't understand

sometimes i think he was yellow

sometimes i think he was tan

and sometimes i think he was a woman

a woman dressed as a man

and though he was old and ancient

and i was less than three

would you laugh

if i should mention

sometimes

i think

he was me

I don't understand