He slowly raised the trembling hand
Gently brushed the silver strand of hair
From his wrinkled brow
Lips that used to talk so free
The eyes that used to beckon me
Were silent now
He listens to a passing train
Gives into an old familiar pain
Familiar pain
They retired him twenty years ago
Gave him a watch made of gold
And took his train
His woman's name was Margaret
He loved her but she went away and left
His heart undone
He called this train the Diplomat
She's the only other lady that
He ever loved
Some forty years he made the steam
From Memphis down to New Orleans
But now
He's off the line
And the closest that he ever gets
To Margaret or the Diplomat
Is in his mind
He said, "Take me to the station
The Diplomat is bringing Margaret home
Can't you hear that whistle blowing?
They both know I've been alone
For much too long
Let's not keep them waiting
We'll talk about the good times later on
Right now take me to the station
The Diplomat is bringing Margaret home"
They say he talks crazy when
He sees the passing train or when he hears
Margaret's name
But the only things he ever loved
Lost before he loved enough
He's not to blame
So who's to say he's right or wrong?
Reaching out and hanging on to dreams
He can't let go
He threw the watch of gold away
But keeps tracks of the memories
Where he belongs
He said, "Take me to the station
The Diplomat is bringing Margaret home
Can't you hear that whistle blowing?
They both know I've been alone
For much too long
Let's not keep them waiting
We'll talk about the good times later on
Right now take me to the station
The Diplomat is bringing Margaret home"
They retired him twenty years ago
Gave him a watch made of gold
And took daddy's train