The Way West

Some say there's no heart beating in my chest

And that it's only empty space

I fired guns 'til they melted, swung swords 'til they broke

But I can't recall anyone's face

This horse carries me across these plains and mountains to the sea

Only the Lord knows if we'll make it

I sleep by a fire each night with the ground as my bead

And the stars my blanket

So worried my sins will follow me down

Do my best to leave no trail

Leave no trail

They still call me Captain even though I took off the Union coat

But I'm no one's Captain anymore

Sleep only comes in bits and pieces with bloody nightmares

I guess my mind must still be at war

Dark times lead some to hate and fear

Leaves us this broken world as it is

Broken as it is

There was a time when I wasn't this lonely old man

And my heart was full, even dizzy

She blew through me like a vertiginous whirlwind

Spinning, dancing, living

Sometimes a love digs in so deep

It's like you each trade bits of your soul

Bits of your soul

For a time I had no bloody dreams, no nightmares

Just peaceful silent easy sleep

Then smallpox came, blistered her skin, and took her away

Left me deep, deep in my grief

This world laughs at us in the wind

The devil hides out in the storms

In the storms

But still my heart ain't empty like they might say

Got bits of her soul tucked away inside

I'm gonna carry her with me all the way to the far off sea

So she can look at it with my eyes

Sometimes all you have left is the journey

And an ache miles deep to get back home

To get back home

And I'll lay this body down there in the earth

So it can open up and swallow me whole

And invite the sea to wash away every last horrendous sin

May God have mercy on my soul

This world don't care if you live or die

Just pulls your blood back to the ground

Back to the ground

Some say there's no heart beating in my chest