Corey's Coming-Harry Chapin

Corey's Coming - Harry Chapin 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