From the recording The Dealer
Lyrics
Dream Drifter
Past midnight, the Northern Star
Shines like a beacon above the phantom bar
I drifted upstairs in this twilight dream
Where the music had died, there was a smoke-filled scene
From the shadows in a long black duster
Black hat ‘n boots, stepped an old drifter
He had a salt ‘n pepper beard, stray-dog eyes
Strummed a vintage guitar as he sang these lines:
Chorus: “If anyone could live without love
“If they could live without the memory
“If anyone could live without love
“They’d suffer even more than me…”
“I can’t really say she did me wrong
“Cuz she’d done me right for so long
“But they’re gamblin’ cards, the jack and the queen
“A woman wagers love, a man wagers dreams
“Then one night the clouds just form
“And in your heart ‘n mind comes a terrible storm
“The wind blows wild, your passions wander
“You turn around and she’s yours no longer…”
(chorus)
“I been walked out back, dealt from the bottom
“Thrown from the saddle, but I got back on ‘em
“I’ve ridden from the ridge to the shadow of the valley
“Been blackjacked in a dead-end alley
“I’m an old outlaw, once young ‘n lean
“But the flower goes to fruit ‘n the fruit goes to seed
“Of love and my lady, I loved and lost
“But I’d lose again ‘n again, gladly pay the cost…”
His voice held strong as he started to fade
He sang it like it was written in spades
“Son, it ended tonight many years ago
“Ever since I’ve wandered a nameless soul
“Cursed to haunt these twilight dreams
“A witness to love and her memory…”
At that I awoke in my bed alone
And I could still hear the old Dream Drifter’s song
“If anyone could live without love…”