Steel Rail Blues
Composer(s): Gordon Lightfoot
First recording/First release by: Gordon Lightfoot - 1964/1966
Covered by multiple other artists



Well, I got my mail late last night
A letter from a girl who found the time to write
To her lonesome boy somewheres 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

Ooooh-oooo-oo-whu-hu-hoo
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-oo

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 are 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

Ooooh-oooo-oo-whu-hu-hoo
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-oo

Well, here I am with my head in the sand
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

Ooooh-oooo-oo-whu-hu-hoo
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-oo
Ooooh-oooo-oo-whu-hu-hoo
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-oo
Yee-hee-heee