Bethany lyrics

In the later afternoon, it sort of softens on the avenue
I'm wasting the remainder of the day
Drinking off what's left of the glasses on the table
When the couples get their checks and walk away
And I'll be here tomorrow, then every day that follows
Until I see you later on this week
Will you come and pick me up when I get off of the bus?
Will you help me bring by stuff out to the beach?

When we met, I was The Rеverend
You werе in the congregation
Didn't happen right away but pretty soon
And I never had a calling, it was just a strong desire
To be the one that stood up in the room
'Cause when I was a child, I used to fixate on the chaplain
The way he brought the widows all to tears
And that looked like a decent way to make a little living here
I gave myself to God for a few years

Built a chapel off the exit on the highway outside Harrisburg
There was all that new development back then
Parishioners would come to me with cakes and little pastries
And ask me for my blessing once again

But I couldn't shake the feeling I was faking all the faithfulness
And every single sermon was a fraud
Drifted through the rituals, prideful, high, and pitiful
And p*ssing off a petty vengeful God
p*ssing off a petty vengeful God
My parents are both ancient now, I'm staying at their summerhouse
I clear out on the weekends when they come
To my sisters and her daughters on the fringe of Philadelphia
With their skinny cigarettes and snapping gum
But I'm grateful for the place to stay, I'm caddying on Saturdays
The money's not as good as it was when we were teenagers
Walk back from the golf course, cut through a couple backyards
But I try to keep my eyes pointed heavenward

In some other prior life, the Reverend and his wife
Are sitting in the kitchen making plans unaware of all the mess
The pressure and the flesh is capable of making in a man
And I never really fell 'cause I was never quite convinced
I must admit I miss all the simplicity of a woman and a man
Though I also understand the reasons that you no longer want to be with me
I can see why you no longer want to be with me

[Instrumental break]

The devil came in hot, someone called the cops
I explained to them how much it is you mean to me
The cuffs, they made a click as they wrapped around my wrists
Everybody's got their version of security
Maybe there's a life where the Reverend has his wife
And Jesus has his ministry in Galilee
But the sunset looks like blood from the window of the bus
Somewhere between Harrisburg and Bethany
Somewhere between Harrisburg and Bethany
Somewhere between Harrisburg and Bethany