It's [bad word] that all the men you knew were dealers
 who said they were through with dealing
 Every time you gave them shelter
 I know that kind of man
 It's hard to hold the hand of anyone
 who is reaching for the sky just to surrender
 who is reaching for the sky just to surrender. 

 And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
 you find he did not leave you very much not even laughter
 Like any dealer he was watching for the card
 that is so high and wild
 he'll never need to deal another
 He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
 He was just some Joseph looking for a manger. 

 And then leaning on your window sill
 he'll say one day you caused his will
 to weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
 And then taking from his wallet
 an old schedule of trains, he'll say
 I told you when I came I was a stranger
 I told you when I came I was a stranger. 

 But now another stranger seems
 to want you to ignore his dreams
 as though they were the burden of some other
 O you've seen that man before
 his golden arm dispatching cards
 but now [bad word] from the elbows to the finger
 And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
 Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter. 

 Ah you hate to see another tired man
 lay down his hand
 like he was giving up the holy game of poker
 And while he talks his dreams to sleep
 you notice there's a highway
 that is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
 It is curling just like smoke above his shoulder. 

 You tell him [bad word] in sit down
 but something makes you turn around
 The door is open you can't close your shelter
 You try the handle of the road
 It opens do not be afraid
 It's you my love, you who are the stranger
 It's you my love, you who are the stranger. 

 Well, I've been waiting, I was sure
 we'd meet between the trains we're waiting for
 I think it's time to board another
 Please understand, I never had a secret chart
 to get me to the heart of this
 or any other matter
 When he talks like this
 you don't know what he's after
 When he speaks like this,
 you don't know what he's after. 

 Let's meet tomorrow if you choose
 upon the shore, beneath the bridge
 that they are building on some endless river
 Then he leaves the platform
 for the sleeping car that's warm
 You realize, he's only advertising one more shelter
 And [bad word] to you, he never was a stranger
 And you say ok the bridge or someplace later. 

 And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind ... 

 And leaning on your window sill ... 

 I told you when I came I was a stranger.