Steel Rail Blues

Words and Music by: Gordon Lightfoot
Arranged and adapted by:
Publisher:  

Recorded by Gordon Lightfoot on: UAS6487, BGO CD166,  CD2237NC423, R275802, BCD15576

Lyrics:

Well I got my mail late last night
A letter from a girl who found the time to write
To her lonesome boy somewher's in the night
She sent me a railroad ticket too
To take me to her lovin' arms
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home
To the one I love

Well I bin out here many a long days
I haven't found a place that I could call my own
Not a two bit bed to lay my body on
I bin stood up I bin shook down
I bin dragged into the sand
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home
To the one I love

Ooh ooh ooh

Well I bin up tight most every night
Walkin' along the streets of this old town
Not a friend around to tell my troubles to
My good old car she done broke down
'Cause I drove it into the ground
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home
To the one I love

Well I look over yonder across the plain
The big drive wheels a-poundin' along the ground
Gonna get on board and I'll be homeward bound
Now I ain't had a home cooked meal 
And Lord I need one now
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home
To the one I love

Now here I am with my hat in hand
Standin' on the broad highway will you give a ride
To a lonesome boy who missed the train last night
I went in town for one last round
And I gambled my ticket away
And the big steel rail won't carry me home
To the one I love