THE OLD FLAGMAN

Carl Sandburg

 

          (Train whistle)

All:             The old flagman has great-grandchildren.

                   Ruddy as a hard nut, hair in his ears, clear sea

                             lights in his eyes,

          (Train whistle)

                   He goes out of his shanty and lifts a sign:  Stop.

 

Solo:          “Y’ see where the sign is dented?

                   I hit a fellah over the head with it,

                   The only way to stop him gettin’ run over.

                   They want to get killed;  I have to stop ‘em.

 

All:             He was twenty years a policeman in Chicago.

 

Solo:          “I carry a bullet in my guts an I got an abscess in

                             my gall bladder—

                   I picked this shanty for a rest.

                   I go slow and careful;  I got a leak in the heart;  if

                   I laugh too hard my heart stops—and I fall down;

                   I have to watch myself.”

 

All:             A third rail car hoots up the line.

                   He goes out with a warning in his hand:  Stop.

 

Solo:          “These damn fools, they want to get under the wheels.

                   I have to stop ‘em.”

 

All:             Ruddy as a hard nut, hair in his ears, clear sea

                             lights in his eyes.