He came down the platform without a sound Coat pulled tight like he owned the ground Streetlight flickered across his face Like a shadow learning how to take shape Nobody asked where he came from Nobody asked what he knew He just leaned on the counter slowly Like he'd already been through you Said there's a letter with no return And a name that the night won't burn You don't remember writing it down But it’s waiting somewhere in this town He said the streets keep every word Even the ones that were never heard Every promise under neon rain Comes back walking the same old lane You think you buried what you said Under the traffic and the dead But every lie leaves a trace behind Like broken glass in the mind He slid the envelope across the bar Said you won't need to go far Just follow the sound of your own past It moves slow but it moves fast I’m just the messenger tonight Walking the wires of the city light Carrying words you tried to hide Through every alley you ran inside Don’t ask me where they began Don’t ask me who I am I don’t stay when the truth gets clear I just make sure it reaches here Outside the window the buses groaned Like tired machines that knew too much Rain on the glass wrote crooked lines Like messages you couldn’t touch He said every man leaves signals behind Little distortions in space and time A word in a room, a step in the hall You think they fade but they watch it all You tried to laugh but it broke in half Like something thin and old Because somewhere deep in the back of your head You knew the story he told I’m just the messenger tonight Walking the wires of the city light Carrying words you tried to hide Through every alley you ran inside Don’t ask me where they began Don’t ask me who I am I don’t stay when the truth gets clear I just make sure it reaches here He said the night is full of doors Some you lock and some ignore But every door you leave alone Still remembers it was your own Then he turned like smoke in air No footsteps anywhere Just the envelope in your hand And the sound of a distant band I’m just the messenger tonight Walking the wires of the city light Carrying words you tried to hide Through every alley you ran inside Don’t ask me where they began Don’t ask me who I am I don’t stay when the truth gets clear I just make sure it reaches here
