There are secrets you keep right through to the end

There are heroes that hide until forever

And I’m singing this song for one of them

He’s the man that you passed on the road there

The one with his life on the loose

Going either somewhere or nowhere

Going without me without you

Chorus:

For he is this world’s greatest orphan

Traveling out his long time

Living on apples and oranges

And dying from grapes on the vine

You can find him in big city winters

Down where the mission bell cries

And sorrow echoes through summer

As he tries to pull us all aside

And dream of his railroad existence

As if it were some kind of dream

As if the extent of the distance

Were what his heart would call him

You can find him in Pittsburgh at Christmas

You can find him in Buffalo in June

And he knows all the backroads between them

Like a gypsy he pulls a load

And it’s route 22 all over again

Stick your thumb out and try to look like somebody’s friend

Look strong at the man Wild for the girls

And puzzled at the rest of the world

Chorus: For he is this worlds constant orphan…