Its been a long time since Ive seen you Just like this face to face And I know I should have called you But I had another ghost to chase Shouldve read your letters Shouldve found out how youd been But the truth is there was no escape The call of whistle and steam Of whistle and steam
Theres a man down at the station On a newspaper bed I just need some kind of salvation Before I die he said But honey were just passers-by In another leaving scene You and I are locked in tight To the call of whistle and steam Of whistle and steam Of whistle and steam
Its the sleepers and the steel Or the black-root and the vine But my place is the space between The past and the horizon line
Can you hear that old horn blowin Every time you close your eyes? And behind every bolted door Is there a voice you recognise? Singing prayers, singing curses Singing all about the dream To everyone caught in the headlights Caught in the whistle and steam In the whistle and steam Caught in the whistle and steam In the whistle and steam In the whistle and steam
Caught in the whistle and steam In the whistle and steam