Kindness of the World

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Who are you to be so brave?
With one arm free to catch yourself
And you're using it to wave;
Who are you to be so strong
That you can leave it all behind?
Laughing in your sleep
And trusting in the kindness of the word

Smokestack clears his chest
And he coughs into his sleeve
Saying I'll out-live the best of you
And with your widow dance and grieve;
We'll keep your name alive
Oh, and I'll keep your darlin' warm
Believing all we read
And trusting in the kindness of the world

I saw Davy twist and shout
I saw Davy draw a crowd
I saw Davy raise his head
And I heard him cry out loud:
I saw Davy climb a tree
To be nearer to his Lord
Now we're sending up his meals
The only kindness we afford

Come every New Year's eve
I'm always sitting here
While Baby shines her shoes
And she spits into my beer;
But tonight I feel I'm floating
For minutes at a time
Just listening to the bells
And trusting in the kindness of the world

But tonight I feel I'm floating
For minutes at a time
Just listening to the bells
And trusting in the kindness of the world