He rose that morning early
As if answering a call
stretching sleep out slowly
As he strode into the hall
He moved to the spare bedroom
And unlocked the cupboard there
With a key that for last few months
Had shared his red chest hair
Forth he drew his battered jeans
Chain wallet, studded belt
And his thin and faded T-shirt
That had worn as smooth as felt
And he dressed with quiet conviction
Moving in a purposed vein
And he pulled till his old steelcap
boots embraced his feet again
He reached for his old jacket
That was worn from years of sun
And its battered vest held on by cloth
And pins from many runs
He gazed then at the barren back
Where denim dye remained
And once before a patch had been
that brotherhood proclaimed
He put it on, it fitted him
Slipped round him like warm love
And he pulled out from its pockets
Shortened fingerless type gloves
He shut the cupboard firmly
Saw the outlaw in its glass
Where once the tame imposter was
Well dressed and oozing class
He had tried his best to settle down
To change his wandering ways
And had cut his ties to his other life
His harder, savage days
He'd done it well
He'd settled in
Had drawn his steady pays
But in the end
Deep from his heart
His spirit had its say
He wandered slowly past their room
It drew a backwards look
For a moment more she lingered on his mind
his heart it felt a sadness
As it dwelt upon the girl
So loving and so very, very kind
But he knew within she loved him
As the man who held the job
And took the daily train into his work
that man had slowly stifled
Had been hollowed from within
A part of him just never could convert
His heart pined for the highways
There was droving in his blood
And his eyes required a stark horizon wide
So the city with its bustled life
Had failed to take the place
Of the empty savage, outback countryside
He sat astride his chopper
Twisted on the petrol taps
And he gave her all the benefits
Of a solid kicking back
As the roaring of the engine
Gently shook his lanky frame
then the power of the motor
Spoke its magic once again
He left the garage suddenly
In an open wristed surge
And he shot towards the open plains
To meet the outlaws urge.
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