Tom Russell Follow

Tom Russell
Box of visions
Angel of Lyon
HE HAD A VISION OF ANNE MARIE
WITH A ROSARY IN HER HAND
SO IT'S EXIT THE RAINMAKER
THE OLD GREY FLANNEL MAN
WITH A CLOSET FULL OF BUSINESS SUITS
HE LEFT A LETTER NEAR THE PHONE
IT SAID, "I'M ON MY WAY TO PARADISE
TO SEE THE ANGEL OF LYON"

AND THEN HE CAUGHT THE TRAIN TO BRUSSELS
HE ORDERED COGNAC AND CROISSANTS
HE MADE A MENTAL LIST
OF THINGS HE OWNED BUT DIDN?T WANT
ALL THE BUILDINGS, ALL THE REAL ESTATE
THE ANTIQUE GLASS AND STONE
HE'D TRADE A VOW OF POVERTY
TO SEE THE ANGEL OF LYON

AND HE SANG AVE MARIA
OR AT LEAST THE PARTS HE KNEW
AND WATCHED THE SHADOW OF THE TRAIN
ON THE TOWNS THAT THEY ROLLED THROUGH
AND HE CLOSED HIS EYES AND HE SAW TWO RIVERS
THE RHONE AND THE SAONE
THE MALE AND FEMALE SPIRIT OF
THE CITY OF LYON

THEN HE WAITED ON THE BRIDGE
WHERE THEY MET THE YEAR BEFORE
BUT THE DAYS TURNED INTO WEEKS
AND THEN THE SEASONS NUMBERED FOUR
AND HIS CLOTHES GREW WORN AND RAGGED
AS THROUGH THAT TOWN HE ROAMED
SEARCHING EVERY OPEN WINDOW
FOR THE ANGEL OF LYON

AND HE SANG AVA MARIA
OR AT LEAST THE PARTS HE KNEW
AND WATCHED HIS SHADOW ON THE WALLS
OF THE STREETS THAT HE WALKED THROUGH
AND HE CROSSED THOSE HOLY RIVERS
THE RHONE AND THE SAONE
THEY'D NOT GIVE UP THE SECRET OF
THE ANGEL OF LYON

THERE'S A THOUSAND CANDLES BURNING
IN THE BASILICA TONIGHT
WHERE SISTER EVE MARIA
IS THE KEEPER OF THE LIGHT
AND DOWN A DREAM OF ALLEYWAYS
WALKS A SAINT OF RAG AND BONE
THE MADMAN TORN ASUNDER
BY THE ANGEL OF LYON

AND HE SANG AVA MARIA
OR AT LEAST THE PARTS HE KNEW
AND WATCHED HIS SHADOW ON THE WALL
OF THE STREETS THAT HE CRAWLED THROUGH
AND HE CROSSED THOSE HOLY RIVERS
THE RHONE AND THE SAONE
BUT THEY'D NOT GIVE UP THE SECRET OF
THE ANGEL OF LYON