Like a Cross of Himself and a Fox

Only one exact portion of the lyrics are problematic to me. I have always interpreted "unforeseen danger" as meaning that the protagonist of this tale knows secrets based on observation. This would be confirmed by the following line, "keeper of the key to the locks". There are slightly sinister elements here, but I get the feeling that The Loner mainly just wants to be left alone. He may know what station you usually depart, but that's merely his own private curiosity. He seems to be still healing from a breakup. Is it the way the words are arranged against themselves that is the issue here, or their basic meaning?


He's a perfect stranger,
Like a cross
of himself and a fox.

He's a feeling arranger
And a changer
of the ways he talks.

He's the unforeseen danger
The keeper of
the key to the locks.

Know when you see him,
Nothing can free him.
Step aside, open wide,
It's the loner.

If you see him in the subway,
He'll be down
at the end of the car.

Watching you move
Until he knows
he knows who you are.

When you get off
at your station alone,
He'll know that you are.

Know when you see him,
Nothing can free him.
Step aside, open wide,
It's the loner.

There was a woman he knew
About a year or so ago.

She had something
that he needed
And he pleaded
with her not to go.

On the day that she left,
He died,
but it did not show.

Know when you see him,
Nothing can free him.
Step aside, open wide,
It's the loner.