Two Ragged Soldiers - Scott Walker

They spoke transparent phrases to looking glass women

And they took the detours that scattered the way

They departed from summer like two ragged soldiers

Dragging their heels through their fantasies

There were meals in the missions for two frozen statues

And long drafty sermons devouring their knees

Sometimes passions in winter turn to cold soundless moments

That teared in the eyes of their fantasies

There were nights on park benches, stale bread for the pigeons

Good mornings to faces who just turned away

And on one road confusion, the other desire

So they took to the road of their fantasies

One would speak of a lake where he used to go swimming

The other had no memories left for his mind

With their arms round each other the two ragged soldiers

Laughed through a war that they couldn’t see

Laughed for a world filled with fantasy