Trailways Bus
(Sir Derek Walcott, Paul Simon, 1997)

A passenger traveling quietly conceals himself
With a magazine and a sleepless pillow
Over the crest of the mountain the moon begins its climb
And he wakes to find he's in rolling farm land
The farmer sleeps against his wife
He wonders what their life must be
A Trailways bus is heading south into Washington, D.C.

A mother and child, the baby maybe two months old
Prepare themselves for sleep and feeding
The shadow of the Capitol dome slides across his face
And his heart is racing with the urge to freedom
The father motionless as stone
A shepherd resting with his flock
The Trailways bus is turning west
Dallas via Little Rock

Oh my darling darling Sal
The desert moon is my witness
I've no money to come east
But I know you'll soon be here

We pull into downtown Dallas by the sight of the grassy knoll
Where the leader fell and a town was broken
Away from the feel and flow of life for so many years
He hears music playing and Spanish spoken

The border patrol outside of Tucson boarded the bus
Any aliens here
You better check with us
How about you son you look like you've got Spanish blood
Do you habla Inglese
Am I understood

Yes I am an alien from Mars
I come to Earth from outer space
And if I traveled my whole life
You guys would still be on my case
You guys would still be on my case

But he can't leave his fears behind
He recalls each fatal thrust
The screams carried by the wind
Phantom figures in the dust
Phantom figures in the dust
Phantom figures in the dust


YT: Trailways Bus
(w/Sara Ramirez, original cast)

LP Wiki: Songs from the Capeman

Play Wiki: The Capeman