I know when he walks through that door before his boots touch the floor I know by the dust on his coat when a word is stuck in his throat He tips his hat like thunder then orders something small for a man who stands so mighty tall he sure can make no sound at all Miss Kitty knows when the quiet river flows Miss Kitty sees when his knees forget his knees He can face a loaded gun he can make a bad man run but when his heart begins to show oh, Miss Kitty knows He leans there by the counter as serious as stone like every glass of whiskey was a courthouse all its own He says, “Evening, Miss Kitty” as if that settles fate then stares into his drink so hard the ice begins to wait Festus says, “Now Matthew, that ain’t much of a speech” Doc says, “Leave the poor man be, love’s always out of reach” I pour another measure and smile the way I do because a woman in a saloon can read a fool right through Miss Kitty knows when the quiet river flows Miss Kitty sees when his knees forget his knees He can face a loaded gun he can make a bad man run but when his heart begins to show oh, Miss Kitty knows He never says too much to me but silence has a sound it taps its boot beneath the bar and follows him around He never writes a letter he never brings a rose but every time he turns to leave he walks away too slow Festus says, “I told him, just speak before you bust” then his mule looked wiser than any man I trust The piano man was laughing the cards fell from a hand and Matt became the quietest storm that ever crossed this land Miss Kitty knows when the quiet river flows Miss Kitty sees when his knees forget his knees He can face a loaded gun he can make a bad man run but when his heart begins to show oh, Miss Kitty knows Now don’t you think I’m waiting like some sad candlelight I run this house, I own my name I lock the doors at night But there’s a kind of tenderness that rides without a rein and sometimes even strong men need a woman to explain So I let him keep his silence I let him wear that star I let him look heroic from three feet down the bar But when he says, “Goodnight, Miss Kitty” with that almost-breaking tone I know he came to Dodge City just to not feel so alone Miss Kitty knows when the quiet river flows Miss Kitty sees when his knees forget his knees He can face a loaded gun he can make a bad man run but when his heart begins to show oh, Miss Kitty knows Yes, Miss Kitty knows what the Marshal never shows and if Festus starts to sing it well, that’s just how gossip grows He can stare the whole world down he can save this dusty town but when he turns and nearly glows oh, Miss Kitty knows
