From Silver Lake

Did you see our brother?
He was here the other day
But he only came to say that he was leaving
Did you see his lady?
She was looking where he'd gone
But she wasn't letting on that she was grieving

She's bound to go
Perhaps she'll find him waiting for his boat in some city far away
She's bound to go

Lately I remember
Afternoons of smoke and wine
There was nothing we could find but peace and pleasure
And with a smile he told me
That he wanted just to be
On his way across the sea no man can measure

He won't be back
And the sun may find him sleeping in the dust of some ruin far away
He won't be back

Early today as I watched while the skyline was shaking
I heard a rumbling
Early today the mechanical city was waking
And I ran out stumbling, mumbling
Out through the laughter of children and dogs

Did you see our brother? (Someone who had been away)
He was here the other day (Suddenly came back today)
(And I allowed a hope to stray into my mind)
But he only came to say that he can't breathe here
Did you see his lady? (For the moment, face to face)
She was reaching for his hand (We looked back upon the place)
(Where long ago we went to chase our careless time)
Just as if to tell her man that she can't either

They're bound to go (Oh, what do you know?)
And the sun may find me running after them (Not what I've been feeling)
Seeing something far away (The past is healing so slow)
We won't be back (By tomorrow gone from sorrow)