Monday, June 22, 2009

Time Between Trains

Around here, many of the towns have free summer concerts, and this past Tuesday, I attended one in nearby Ridgefield, CT, where the wonderful Susan Werner was playing. I had been introduced to her at the same venue last year, and was very glad that the weather cleared up in time for her show. A small gathering of friends, with a potluck picnic and a couple of bottles of wine, created the setting for a beautiful evening.



Some of her songs came from her album of last year, called The Gospel Truth. Not what you'd expect from that title; she calls herself "an evangelical agnostic", and her lyrics include such gems as:

Lord, lead us not into temptation
And deliver us
from those who think they're You.


But the songs that touched me the most are the ones that talk of being single, of the struggle to connect with another, of loneliness.

Her words struck me with a special poignancy that night, as I had run into an old love, one for whom I will always have great affection. He seemed very happy to see me, and it made me long for the connection we once had, although I know that one can never travel the same road twice.

Her trademark song, Time Between Trains, is probably my favorite:

I'm waitin' at the station
I can choose my destination
I'm a free soul, I got no chains
But it's a long time between trains

I took a long nap, I read a whole book
I got nice legs, I got decent looks
And I'm not one who complains
But it's a long time between trains

And who'd have thought it all those years
That I would find myself back here
Feelin' restless and ignored
Starin' at the schedule board
Wonderin' why the fates above
Always route love through Miami

And somewhere lovers smile their smiles
While I count the ceiling tiles
And well give or take a few
There's one thousand fifty-two
But that depends if you include
The eighty-eight out in the hall

Yes I'm waitin' at the station
With my old friend sublimation
You know the Wright boys designed planes...

Must have been a long time, yeah

Must have been a long time

Must have been a long time between trains.

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