On the Waterfront
Cain and Abel
Charlie and Terry
Brother and Brother
You lifted him—Terry, you
lifted your brother, body limp
off the meat hook, gently
your brother hanging in the alley
hanging in the sky
You thought—
Charlie you was my brother
you shoulda been lookin’ out for me
you told me—Terry take the fall
for the short money this isn’t your night
this isn’t my night?
No you didn’t think that
You thought of that day walking with Edie
through the park along the water
she drops her glove Pick it up, Terry
put it on just keep walking just keep talking
You thought—I coulda been a contender
I coulda been somebody
instead of a bum which is what I am
No you didn’t think that
You thought of Edie’s brother
going up to the roof that night that night you called to him
you thought they were going to lean on him just a little bit
the ‘boys’ of Johnny Friendly threw her brother from the roof
He may be a pigeon
but he can’t fly
Terry, are you still lifting
your brother, gently off the meat hook
Are you still looking for your pigeons
circling the sky