Ralph Goes to Washington (track 11 in my post-apocalyptic story)

[Verse 1] A cracked barstool and the smell of regret Where the dust tastes like copper and the sun hasn't set In walks a ghost with a headache and a lie Says he flew here on wings that scrape the sky [Chorus] Ralph’s got a chopper made of rust and spite** A briefcase full of shadows in the dead of night** He’s cursing vendors, coffee, moldy bread** Says his buddy’s dead - "Eh, better off that way," he said** [Verse 2] The kid with the mission hides a grin in his sleeve Watches this old man spin tales no one believes "Mojave’s home," he slurs, "till this junk-heap flew" "Wife’s gonna kill me – what’s a man to do?" He bitches ‘bout helmets, brats, and mood-swing fools While the adventurer plays by Maggie’s rules Keeps him breathing, keeps that case secure From D.C. gutters to some west-coast cure [Chorus] Ralph’s got a chopper made of rust and spite A briefcase full of shadows in the dead of night He’s cursing vendors, coffee, moldy bread Says his buddy’s dead - "Eh, better off that way," he said [Bridge] Radiation winds and whiskey veins Decades of dirt in those Illinois plains Farmed corn and corpses, buried pain with a hoe Now he’s stranded with secrets only Maggie knows His truth’s a backbeat pounding in his chest Guard the case, survive, then head back west [Verse 3] They raid old bunkers, dodge raider guns Ralph’s bitching ’bout the lack of decent buns This whole damn wasteland’s run by clowns!" he moans While the kid thinks of graves and Allison’s bones One dawn they find parts for that bird of scrap Ralph packs the case, straps on his cap Adventure’s over, boy – this shit’s for youth Leaves the kid smiling at the absurd truth [Outro Chorus] Ralph’s got a chopper made of rust and spite A briefcase full of shadows in the dead of night He’s back to Jean and the ghosts he left behind. But D.C. won’t forget his whining, drunken mind.