Late at night I listen as it rolls on down the line The sound of that old mountain train I’ve heard 1,000 times Well, its whistle’s like a dagger cuttin’ through that summer breeze And its engine’s like the voice of God that brings me to my knees Well, I used to sit and watch it as it headed down the track I’d wonder what it’s haulin’ and when it’s comin’ back Livin’ in them backwoods, nearly every day’s the same And there ain’t much to see, except that danged ol’ mountain train.
(Chorus) Mountain train I can hear you as you roll on through my mind I wish you’d take my troubles here and haul ‘em far behind The sounds you bellow out are both so lonesome and so cold Makes me wish I had someone just lying here to hold.
There’s a gal up on that mountain pretty as the breath of spring I saved up a half a year to buy that girl a ring But she found herself another man who rode in on the train And I knew life for me up there would never be the same. Well I found them out one evening it was several miles from home Walkin’ on that dusty trail, just standin’ there alone So I pulled out my rifle before they ever said a word And the sound of that ol’ whistle was the last thing that they heard.
(Repeat Chorus)
Well, they found me on that mountain there and they put me away Now I sit here in this prison waitin’ for my judgment day And every night I listen as I hear it closin’ in The sound of that ol’ mountain train I’ll never see again.