When the lamps are low at Long Branch and the dust has left the street I can tell a man his troubles by the way he finds his seat Gamblers want their courage cowboys want their pride Doc wants one for science with another one beside Festus wants a story that begins and never ends Chester wants his coffee and the piano wants new friends But when the Marshal enters with that weather in his tone I know before he speaks a word he didn’t come alone Kitty pours another one not too weak and not too strong just enough to help a man pretend he won’t stay long Kitty pours another one with a smile he can’t outrun he says, “Evening, Miss Kitty” and Kitty pours another one Some men drink for sorrow some men drink for fame some men drink because they lost and some because they came One drinks like a thunderstorm one drinks like a prayer one drinks like his mother might be hiding in a chair I’ve seen men face ruin with a whiskey and a lie I’ve seen boys become old men before the glass ran dry But Matt just holds his tumbler like it might explain his heart and stares across the counter like the words forgot to start Kitty pours another one not too weak and not too strong just enough to help a man pretend he won’t stay long Kitty pours another one with a smile he can’t outrun he says, “Evening, Miss Kitty” and Kitty pours another one Festus says, “Now Matthew, that glass won’t do the talking” Doc says, “If it did, my boy, it would have started walking” The piano player chuckles then hides behind a chord because no one mocks a Marshal unless they’re safely bored Matt says, “Town was quiet” like that means anything while his thumb goes round the glass rim like a horse tied to a string I say, “Quiet can be pleasant” and I let the silence sit for a woman knows the difference between empty and not yet Kitty pours another one not too weak and not too strong just enough to help a man pretend he won’t stay long Kitty pours another one with a smile he can’t outrun he says, “Evening, Miss Kitty” and Kitty pours another one Now don’t you call me waiting like a picture on a wall I run this room with velvet hands and hear the footsteps fall I know when trouble’s coming I know when cards are marked I know when hearts are lanterns trying not to spark And Matt, he ain’t a coward though his tongue may disagree he carries half the county and leaves his heart with me So I don’t ask the question that would make him turn away I pour a little mercy at the closing of the day Kitty pours another one not too weak and not too strong just enough to help a man pretend he won’t stay long Kitty pours another one with a smile he can’t outrun he says, “Evening, Miss Kitty” and Kitty pours another one At midnight Doc is yawning Festus hums off-key the gamblers count their losses like they’re reading prophecy The street outside is sleeping the horses dream of hay and Matt stands by the doorway with one more thing to say He says, “Goodnight now, Kitty” and almost says the rest but almost is a country somewhere deep inside his chest I nod as if that’s plenty and maybe it will do for not all love is spoken when the speaker hasn’t a clue Kitty pours another one not too weak and not too strong just enough to help a man pretend he won’t stay long Kitty pours another one with a smile he can’t outrun he says, “Goodnight, Miss Kitty” and Kitty pours another one Yes, he says, “Goodnight, Miss Kitty” and Kitty pours another one
