The Last Watch (on the Midland)

Verse 1 They dragged her down, dead, from Tobermory Too cheap to spare her one last head of steam Deep in diesel fumes embraced Rust and soot upon the face of one who was so clean Verse 2 They brought me here to watch her in the boneyard Just two old wrecks to spend the night alone It’s the dark inside this evil place Clouds on the moon hide her disgrace This whiskey hides my own Chorus It’s the last watch on the Midland The last watch alone One last night to love her The last night she’s whole Verse 3 My guess is that we were young together Like her’s, my strength was young and hard as steel And like her too, I knew my ground I scarcely felt the years go round In answer to the wheel Verse 4 But then they quenched the fire beneath the boiler Gave me a watch and showed me out the door At sixty-four, you’re still the best One year more, and then you’re less Than dust upon the floor Chorus It’s the last watch on the Midland The last watch alone One last night to love her The last night she’s whole Verse 5 So here’s to useless superannuation And us old relics of the days of steam In the morning, Lord, I would prefer When men with torches come for her Let angels come for me Chorus It’s the last watch on the Midland The last watch alone One last night to love her The last night she’s whole It’s the last watch on the Midland The last watch alone One last night to love her The last night she’s whole