Album: Sold American

Western Union Wire

(Kinky Friedman)
From a cheap hotel in Dallas
On a cold December day
A telegram was traveling on its way
LiKe a sad old song from somewhere
In the distance of a dream
Flashing ¡®cross the darkness
On the telegraph machine.
It said, ¡°From Billy,¡± at the bottom, ¡°To Baby,¡± at the top
Western Union Wire ¡ª ¡°Please help me¡± ¡ª stop.
Western Union Wire ¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t leave me.¡± ¡ª stop.
Well, the taxicab it took her
To the airport in the dawn,
She knew in just an hour she¡¯d be gone.
She was standing near the platform
¡®Bout to board the big Pan Am
When someone came
And put the lonely message in her hand.
It said, ¡°From Billy,¡± at the bottom, ¡°To Baby,¡± at the top
Western Union Wire ¡ª ¡°Please help me¡± ¡ª stop.
Western Union Wire ¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t leave me.¡± ¡ª stop.
Headin¡¯ high above Chicago
Just a-reachin¡¯ for the skies
She found herself with teardrops in her eyes.
And a little boy beside her asked her,
¡°Mama, where is Pop ?¡±
And she just broke down a-cryin¡¯
¡®Cause she knew she couldn¡¯t stop.
It said, ¡°From Billy,¡± at the bottom, ¡°To Baby,¡± at the top
Western Union Wire ¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t leave me.¡± ¡ª stop.
¡°Ah, you said you¡¯d always love me ¡ª how could you ?¡± ¡ª stop,
¡°In pieces on the runway ¡ª I love you.¡± ¡ª stop.