w&m Anne Hills
© 2014 Raven Heart Music (ASCAP)
From Anne’s album Tracks
Maria took the train to town she’s never coming back
the snow has started falling on the pennies, on the track
the sugar maples catch on fire as carloads barrel past
she’s listening to the Mission bells and drinking something burgundy
from green depression glass
their missing her at mass
Maria took the train to town it was a cold walk there
she mentioned she was going as she twisted up her hair
the sun sets like a tangerine against the mountain’s blue
she’s listening the wheels below and humming something brokenly
as she gazes at the view
the horizon gazes, too
and the train rolls on forever, making stops along the way
passing love and joy and heartache, moving steady on ’til day
Maria took the train to town writing letters of regret
and she’s wrapped them up in shades of blue too lovely to forget
she’s drifting through the market now, past the ribbons long and bright
she’s listening to the chattering and choosing something glittering
to tie the letters tight
she’ll deliver them tonight
and the train rolls on forever, making stops along the way
passing love and joy and heartache, moving steady on ’til day
Maria took the train to town she’s given up her name
and on the street they stare at her, like hunters at their game
her suitcase holds a notebook full of poems that she wrote
a homeless writer selling words, asking “something, anything”
and she buttons up her coat
wind, a knife against her throat
Maria took the train to town the winter will be bleak
she thought if she tried hard she’d find what others seek
by the gates of disappointment swinging open in the breeze
Maria’s lips are bitten raw, she’s fumbling with a rosary
she whispers on her knees
won’t someone help her please
and the train rolls on forever, making stops along the way
passing love and joy and heartache, moving steady on ’til day
Maria took the train to town I saw her from my door
she tipped her chin as if to say I’ve been this way before
I was hoping there’d be more.