The Ragpicker's Dream - Mark Knopfler

When Jack Frost came for christmas 
With a brass monkey date 
The rail-king and the scarecrow 
Hopped a florlda freight 
And they blew on their paper cups 
And stared through the steam 
Then they drank half a bottle 
Of ragpicker's dream where 

The whiskey keeps following 
Cold pitchers of beer 
Me and my associate 
Like the clientele here get 
The onions and the 'taters 
Rib-eyes on the grill 
Toothpicks and luckies 
And a coffee refill as 

The rail-king lay rocking 
He was leaving the ground 
Then he was flying like santa claus 
Over the town where 
He came to the window 
Of a house by a stream 
It was a family christmas 
In the ragpicker's dream there 

Were kids at the table 
All aglow in the light 
Music in the wintertime 
Sure carries at night there 
Was turkey and gravy 
Pie and ice-cream 
And gifts for each and everyone 
In the ragpicker's dream where 

The red-eye keeps tumbling 
In our glasses of beer 
Me and my associate 
Like the service in here there's 
A ten for your trouble 
You have beautiful hair 
Make the last one two doubles 
It's a cold one out there where 

The scarecrow and the rail-king 
Have started to dance 
But a nightstick and a billyclub 
Won't give peace a chance here 
I think they went thataways 
Your song and dance team 
Heading home for the holidays 
With the ragpicker's dream on 

His knees like a fighter 
The rail-riding king 
Like a sack of potatoes 
Like a bull in the ring where 
The scarecrow falls over 
With a tear in the seam 
Home for the rover 
In the ragpicker's dream where 

The red-eye keeps tumbling 
Like tears in our beer 
Me and my associate 
Like the ambience here where 
They cornered two castaways 
In a white flashlight beam 
Merry christmas and happy days 
In the ragpicker's dream