My hands are bruised and bloody, and my spirit’s growing numb

As I plow another row beneath this hot Nebraska sun

I close my eyes and face the ocean, listen hard to hear the waves

I see a steam-powered magic carpet coming to carry me away

I can hear that whistle crying, I can smell that burning coal

And I swear I feel the wheels rumbling

Deep down in my soul

I want to climb up on that iron horse

And ride it all the way

To the coast of California

On the San Francisco Bay

Train, train running down the track

There’s a lot of leavin’, not much, comin’ back.

Someday I’ll buy a ticket to go, and I’ll be

Gone, gone, long gone.

At night I dream that all my bones are made of solid steel

And my eyes burn red with fire, and my feet turn into wheels

I say hello to Rocky Mountains and goodbye to fields of grain

As I ride a golden railway ‘cross these god-forsaken plains

Train, train running down the track

There’s a lot of leavin’, not much, comin’ back.

Someday I’ll buy a ticket to go, and I’ll be

Gone, gone, long gone.

To that great transcontinental rail I’ll kindly raise my glass

Gonna take me out of Omaha,

I pray it takes me fast

Time passes by so slowly when you're where you don’t belong

So when they drive that final spike I’m gonna sing my leaving song

Train, train running down the track

There’s a lot of leavin’, not much, comin’ back.

Someday I’ll buy a ticket to go, and I’ll be

Gone, gone, long gone.