The Train Song

Daddy took a bullet from a scab in West Virginia
Mama took the family and she drove to Albuquerque
My sister took a job, got sent to fight across the border
My brother keeps my mama, her grief took half her mind
So I send them home some money from the odd jobs that I find
No one came knockin' at my door with loving on their mind
The only knocks I ever got were of the hurting kind
So I keep on moving on down the line
One foot ahead of trouble
But trouble’s all this body ever finds
One step forward, two steps back
Trying to get across the railroad track
One step forward, two steps back
Trying to get across the railroad track
And there’s a train a-comin', there’s a train a-comin'
There’s a train a-comin', I want to ride
I’ve seen the eyes of prison guards staring at my body
I’ve known the arms of strangers who left money on the table
I’ve stood for hours putting pears and apples into boxes
I’m afraid to see my mama, I may lose half my mind
So I send them home some money from the odd jobs that I find