The return of the gentleman Heading down the Whyteleafe line He has a kind of tranquility Thinking of Germany Or mentally he’s already there Other times he’d be looking South To the ring roads and roundabouts To Crawley where the rain is framed On metal windowpanes The Paris of the 60’s The Berlin of the 70’s The Stockholm of the 90’s His sweet municipal dream In Whyteleafe Such a lonely, lonely leaf Station to station Whyteleafe to Caterham In Whyteleafe Such a lonely, lonely leaf Faber & Faber Reading his paper
The return of the gentleman Longing for the recent past On the rail replacement bus He’d never cause a fuss Though it’s ridiculous At the staff Christmas party In the dark Toby Carvery He has to bite his tongue While he’s dreaming of duel nationality The Paris of the 60’s The Berlin of the 70’s The Stockholm of the 90’s His sweet municipal dream In Whyteleafe Such a lonely, lonely leaf Station to station Whyteleafe to Caterham In Whyteleafe Or another lonely leaf Faber & Faber Reading his paper