Mark Knopfler - The Ragpicker's Dream lyrics

When Jack Frost came for Christmas
With a brass monkey date
The Rail King and the Scarecrow
Hopped a Florida 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
Ribeyes on the grill toothpicks and Luckys
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