A long black engine keeps a rollin' along its wheels goin' clickety-clack
she's carryin' me to war that eastern seaboard louisiana i ain't comin' back
and i sit all alone in an empty box listen to the engine roar
and i see the world that she oughta be seen through a crack in the boxcar door
A hobo's life is a lonely life and i'm restless son of a gun
so i'll keep a riding these ribbons of steel and wait for my setting sun
and i sit all alone...
The engineer is pullin' her down and i reckon we ain't goin' to stop
and i'll be a dodgin' the man that sticks i hear him a walkin' on top
and i sit all alone...
Most folks think i'm a crazy man at all of hoboes like me
but i let the bottle that holds all the world and i'll die happy and free
and i reckon i'll die in an empty box listen to the engine roar
i'll take the last long look at ther world that i love
through a crack in thin boxcar door
i'll take the last long look...