There are songs that birds don't sing to people
There are secrets that keep right through to the end
There are heroes that hide until forever
And I'm singing this song for one of them

He's the man that you passed on the road there
The one with his life on the loose
Going either somewhere or nowhere
Going without me, without you

For he is this world's constant orphan
Traveling out his long time
Living on apples from orchards
And dying from grapes on the vine

You can find him in big city winters
Down where the mission bell cries
And the sorrow echoes through summers
As he tries to close all his eyes

You can find him in Pittsburgh at Christmas
You can find him in Buffalo in June
And he knows all the back roads between them
Like the gypsy knows the moon

And it's route twenty-two all over again
Stick your thumb out and try to look like somebody's friend
Look strong at the man, gentle at the girl
And puzzled at the rest of the world

For he is this world's constant orphan
Traveling out his long time
Living on apples from orchards
And dying from grapes on the vine

Living on apples from orchards
And dying from grapes on the vine