I could see as I rode in The ships were gone and the pit filled in A funeral bell called the hour in A lonesome drunk was stumbling Not a twang of a guitar Not a siren wailed in pain Not even a shadow of desire In the pouring, pouring rain Breeze black windows in dead streets Where I was lived up on the cheap "Ask no questions, work and sleep" Said the old time ghosts on dead streets I could hear the shout, but not the pain Some lucky stranger in the rain I could hear the shout, but not the pain To some lucky stranger in the rain Well, hammers beat in dusty times On these weedy, rusted lines Mocking the sun and optimistic signs Above the chained-off gates of iron The sun won't shine this way again The lucky moon went on the wane Oh, I never saw a star again In the pouring, pouring rain Groove by the sharp Italian feets The corner shops with scissor teeth Clippin' the life from weary me Talkin' em down on HP Street, yeah, have mercy The army band plays in the train That's some trombone and some refrain The future points to the weathervane In the pouring, pouring rain Could hear the shout, but not the pain Some lucky stranger in the rain Could hear the shout, but not the pain To some lucky stranger in the rain