i had to stop and catch my breath when the telephone rang out as loud as death it was three in the morning there was a low drone of katydids behind your voice and then i came down from harrisburg pennsylvania and i saw you by the highway you asked me if the north was all right and i said it got kind of cold at night i could feel your bones shivering way down there in birmingham and then i came down from harrisburg pennsylvania and i saw you by the highway you reminded me of all the things you d given up forever and you asked about the children and you asked about the weather and then i came down from harrisburg pennsylvania and i saw you by the highway