I was minding my own business
On the Manchester express train
When an old man came and sat down
Who was obviously insane
He was talking to himself
In a very funny way
And all the other people, one by one
Decided not to stay
Till eventually just he and I
Were sitting all alone
'Cause I was interested in what he had
To say when on his own

He said...

What's it all about, I often wonder
And why on earth is everybody here?
Sometimes pressure is enough to drive me under
And like everyone I'm so afraid of fear
All the world is getting harder
Oh, it's much too much to stand
That's why I'm such a very, very melancholy man

The conductor came for tickets
But he didn't stay too long
In fact he swung around and went out
When he realised what was wrong
Then the geezer coughed and wheezed a bit
Complained about the cold
Suggested putting on his overcoat
And mourned his getting old
Soon he paused in his soliloquy
He paused and scratched his head
Then, assured of total privacy
Addressed himself and said...

What's it all about, I often wonder
And why on earth is everybody here?
Sometimes pressure is enough to drive me under
And like everyone I'm so afraid of fear
All the world is getting harder
Oh, it's much too much to stand
That's why I'm such a very, very melancholy man

There's a difference between
Closing eyes and letting out a sigh
And I knew with sudden certainty
The man was going to die
I rushed out into the corridor
And I fell from side to side
As I ran to the conductor
With his big mouth gaping wide
Well, between us we both laid him down
And tried to rest his head
But by the time we got to Manchester
The poor old man was dead

What's it all about, I often wonder
And why on earth is everybody here?
Sometimes pressure is enough to drive me under
And like everyone I'm so afraid of fear
All the world is getting harder
Oh, it's much too much to stand
That's why I'm such a very, very melancholy man

All the world is getting harder
Oh, it's much too much to stand
That's why I'm such a very, very melancholy man