SUBWAY MUSIC

The old man -- 70? 80? 60 but life's been mighty rough?

Walks down the middle of the subway car

With a cane and a can, held out for change.

This leaves him without a hand to steady himself

Against the car's judder and sway. His clothes 

Are old; his new shoes busy themselves 

Trying to keep him from falling outright. He sings 

Ancient Top 40 songs as if they were the blues 

He comes in as a tenor, singing that it's his party and

He'll cry if he wants to but, halfway along,

Switches to a whiskey bass and urges Cupid

To draw back his bow. I give him some change;

This distracts him and he sings twice over

That he's in danger of losing all his happiness.