"Freight Train Blues" lyrics - JACK ELLIOTT & DERROLL ADAMS

I was born in dixie in a boomer's shack
Just a little shanty by a railroad track
The hummin' of the drivers was my lullaby
And a freight train whistle taught me how to cry

I've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy
Got 'em in the bottom of my ramblin' shoes
And when the whistle blows, I've gotta go
Oh lordy, guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues

Well the aeroplanes and autos always leave me cold
And the steamboat whistle never stirs my soul
The only thing that makes me want to navigate
Is a wildcat whistle on a south bound freight

I've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy
I got 'em in the bottom of my ramblin' shoes
When the whistle blows, I've gotta go
Oh lordy, guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues

Well, my daddy was a fireman and my momma was dear
She was the only daughter of an engineer
My sister loves a brakeman and it is no joke
It's a wonder how she keeps a good man broke

I've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy
Got 'em in the bottom of my ramblin' shoes
When the whistle blows, I've gotta go
Oh lordy, guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues

Now I've rambled through the cities and I've traveled through the towns
And I never can find a place to stop and settle down
Every time I find a place I'd like to stay
A freight train holler and I'm on my way

I've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy
Got 'em in the bottom of my ramblin' shoes
When the whistle blows, I've gotta go
Oh lordy, guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues