A montreal song

I turned on the TV war news
just to look and wonder why.
Thunder crashed and red flash-flowers
bloomed a nightmare in the sky.

So i went down to the cafe
just to string myself along.
On the way i found some riches --
played the jukebox, got this song.

While i sat there a ragged man came --
bummed a coffee, talked awhile.
Told me stories full of wonder --
left me laughing like a well-loved child.