He tends the wick at midnight hour
Salt wind no longer holds his power
Neon hum replaces foghorn sound
Flashlight beam cuts tar-bound ground
Crossroads beam in sodium glow
Keeper watches cars come slow
Banjo rings and cello weeps
Promise that the watchman keeps
Moths circle bright fluorescent pane
He counts the gallons counts the rain
Oil skin traded for polyester vest
Salt in beard puts storm to rest
Crossroads beam in sodium glow
Keeper watches cars come slow
Banjo rings and cello weeps
Promise that the watchman keeps
Trucker nods with thermos steam
Headlights paint a waking dream
Logbook swapped for credit card
Light still cuts the dark yard hard
Crossroads beam in sodium glow
Keeper watches cars come slow
Banjo rings and cello weeps
Promise that the watchman keeps
Dawn breaks pink on metal roof
Gulls replaced by pigeon proof
Tide charts folded in his coat
New horizon same old note
Lantern glass and pump glass shine
Different posts but same design
One beam cuts the water black
One cuts asphalt coming back
Shift ends slow the beam goes cold
Stories etched in lines so old
He walks home through sleeping town
Keeper step don't make a sound
Crossroads beam in sodium glow
Keeper watches cars come slow
Banjo rings and cello weeps
Promise that the watchman keeps
Light holds true on either shore
Watchman work is evermore