Trans Europe Express 1980s Paris Bruxelles

1985
Paris
The Trans Europe Express
Out of Gare du Nord
Two hours plus
To Bruxelles
Christine et moi
A Bruxelles.
To record a 45
‘Take Me Higher’.
Train leaves the station
Northbound
Paris left behind
Clackety-clack
Picking up speed
Only clack-clack-clack
Through Ile-de-France.
Early morning
Gray sky
Comme toujours
Petite dejeuner
In the dining car.
White table cloth
Silver service
Maybe a glass of wine.
Picardy
Flat fields forever.
Clack clack clack
Back in our seats
Christine asleep
Last night drinks
A Le Privilege
Clack clack clack
Wallonia
Out the window
Gray sky
Rain
Rows of plowed dirt to the horizon
Thinking of Jaques Brel
Le plat pays qui est a mienne.
Clack clack clack.
Christine still asleep
Maybe dreaming
I cover her with a SCNF blanket
Le Trans Europe Express
Le Classe of Old Europe.
Clack clack clack
The main station of Brussels-Midi
Less than an hour away
Clack clack clack
Sixty years ago.
A horrible war was fought here
Millions died on this soil.
The War To End All Wars.
Nothing but farmland today
Clack Clack clack.
Thinking of Jacques Brel
"The flat country that is mine."
Clack clack clack
And Brussels
Chocolate, beer, a deeper gray than Paris
Soon to come.
Tonight
In a studio
Christine at the Mike ‘
Take Me Higher.
Clack Clack Clack
Trans Europe Express.

of course who can't forget TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS by Kraftwerk.