8980 Songtext
von Gabriel Kahane

The flag was torn in a Tuesday tug-of-war
I was standing there in tatters when the carnie took the floor
Left my cellphone for a suitcase
Checked the pockets for a clue—
There was an atlas
It reminded me of you

Chinese dragon inches toward the boarding gate
Found my seat and told a joke to break the ice, but it broke too late
The punchline shattered on the carpet
All our faces turned to shale
Up the Hudson for a furlough to the rail

8980 on an overnight train
Crawling back toward the national pain
I′m a city boy swimming in the Laramie plain
Looking for something—
What it is?
I just wanna talk to you
I just wanna talk to you
I just wanna talk to you


Smoke break breathing North Dakota in the snow
Is difference only distance from the people I don't know?
′Cause here I am with strangers
Singing four-part harmony
Of a pasture undivided to the sea

8980 on an overnight train
Crawling back toward the national pain
I'm a city boy swimming in the Laramie plain
Looking for something—
What it is?
I just wanna talk to you
I just wanna talk to you
I just wanna talk to you

Last light sinking in an unfamiliar bed
Crooked shoulder, crooked conversation
Running through my head
Gonna count the trees and taillights
'Til the hour I′m left to dream
Of that pasture undivided to the sea
Undivided to the sea