She was counting out the window of the outbound train
All the poles of the telegraph
And the rock-a-bye rhythm in the song of the rails

Couldn't make the sweeper laugh

Down down down so deep

Down down drowning in his sleep
Tommy's coming home again


And a hawk hovered high above a skinny jackrabbit
Pursued by a hungry fox
And a broker awoke her from a fitful slumber

Then consulted his shares and his stocks

Down down down they go

Down down how he'll never know
Tommy's coming home again
And it's almost April Fools' Day


As he glanced on his paper looking through the veil (?)
He could see she was really upset

As she tucked back the ribbon in a velvet box
As he offered her a cigarette


Down down down she took a drag

Now he's covered in a flag

Tommy's coming home again
And it's almost April Fools' Day


Almost April Fools' Day
And the joke's on everyone
He had that premonition

Only dead men dwell upon

But how could he know that only twelve months later

She would wear her skirt up over her knee
And in the very same carriage she'd be flattened with roses
And forget the tears of bigotry (?)


Down down down they flow
Now now now it just don't matter anymore

Tommy made it home again
When it was almost April Fools' Day


Almost April Fools' Day
And the joke's on everyone
He had that premonition

Only dead men dwell upon

Tommy's coming home again

Tommy's coming home again
Tommy's coming home