[Intro: one bar of sparse tremolo guitar alone, then vocal over guitar] [Verse 1] The last train stopped at Milton With a problem on the line We stood beneath the noticeboard And watched them change the time You had twenty-seven percent I had change for something hot We bought a bag of salted crisps And gave the guard what he had dropped [Chorus] We may have to take The long way back Past the sleeping factories Beside the railway track You can tell me half a story I can tell you what I lack We've got time On the long way back [Verse 2] The replacement bus was coming From the other side of town You said you'd had enough of waiting And I put my coffee down A fox slipped through the railings Like he'd done it all before You said you'd never seen one near I said, "There's probably more" [Chorus] We may have to take The long way back Past the sleeping factories Beside the railway track You can tell me half a story I can tell you what I lack We've got time On the long way back [Bridge] At the bridge you said your father Had forgotten how to call I said mine still left a message Like he thought I lived at school You let the silence have a minute I let it have one too Then we crossed beneath the streetlamp With the moths around its blue [Final Chorus] We decided on The long way back Let the bus go by us With its windows full of black You can finish up your story There's a mile and half of that We've got time On the long way back [Outro] At the corner We could see the light You said, "Someone's up" I said, "That's right"
