Comes Indiana Through the Smoke Songtext
von Okkervil River

So does the ink dry out?
So does the singing mouth get sown up?
So does the new headline no longer reach the town?
So does the rosy fire of the horizon fade into dull grey?
While the trees out by the parking lot get greener with the rain
On a dazzling field of blue
She comes sailing into view
All around her engines screaming, guns unload
Comes Indiana through the smoke
Indiana through the smoke


But you were bigger than life
You were giant
You were earth-sized
And now you′re mostly just your mind
And your dim eyes
And your fractured spine
And you sail into the great unknown
But you've got to go alone there
You can′t even take your child or bride
But it's okay and she's crying
With her OS2U fleet
Anti-aircraft battery
She is occupied by eighteen hundred souls
Comes Indiana through the smoke
Indiana through the smoke

And this great big buzzing death hole swells
At the corner of the carpet
Nurses going in and out
Well they all just step around it
And the room is moving in so close
As some moments come in nearer
And your story′s coming out so slow
But I come closer and can hear her
And she steams out Casco Bay
Part of Taskforce 58
And the young men board her, all love brave and bold
Comes Indiana through the smoke
Indiana through the smoke

She won′t sink or run aground
She won't turn back, she won′t back down
When you find her time to finally let go
Comes Indiana through the smoke
Indiana through the smoke