Bus Journey from Other Stories by Jon Airdrie and the Enablers

Bus Journey

I didn’t know what to hope for
As the bus rolled along the roadway
Above the curling river
Clattering round that old track
Maybe you’d be polite
Wishing me good morning
Telling me you’d been up for hours
As an apology for yawning

Down the road
On a busy journey
Down the road
Snaking through the trees/pines

I didn’t know what to hope for
And I kept my hopes inside me
As the sun rose through the window
Making soft the seat’s leather
Maybe you would nod
And then turn towards the others
Smiling, give them your news
For they are your brothers

I didn’t know what to hope for
And the passing years lent confusion
For part of me was back there
While the head told/gave a different story
Maybe you would offer
A handshake, as with all of us
Who had made the journey westwards
On trains and then this ancient bus

I didn’t know what to hope for
With the bus on that last crescent
Where your fields and your farm
Lay down the slope beside it
And the old vehicle slowed
We collected our bags as it jolted
Just about keeping our feet
As with a thud it halted

I didn’t know what to hope for
I stepped off and onto the verge
Seeing you, a single figure
Waiting on the rough grass below us
I watched my feet as we descended
My years led me not to take risks
For before there was a boundless world
Now loss lay at my fingertips

(I didn’t know what to hope for
So did not look too closely
At you, waiting on that flood plain
Watching us come towards you
And you strode swiftly towards me
You held me and you hugged me
You kissed me on the lips
You took my hand and led me onwards.

• Folk
• alt-folk....
• psych folk
• singer-songwriter
• Newport