Who WAS That Ghost Train?© 2001 Jesse SlokumLet me tell you 'bout a ghost train, whistling thru the cat and dog rain What's this I see - It's dead ahead on the very same track Now, I'll tell you, I had gone insane, it's driving right into my brain And Im on a single line bridge, with no way to turn back Yes, it was a big, black steamer, an old roaring, charging screamer The kind all of those hobo singers used to talk about I have been an idle schemer, you can call me a lost dreamer But this ghost train was certainly enough to make me shout Listen now, won't you hit those air brakes, I've got the kind of FAITH that it takes To bring that glory train down around the Bend Yes, won't you hit those air brakes? Before this whole earth finally shakes In that FULLNESS of time, just before the end In a nightmare brought on by guilt, I saw this world as Babel was built Except, that this time there was a train-line right up to that Tower There were pinball games which would always tilt, Insane men saying "do what thou wilt" Powers that could make all but God's children bow and cower I saw an old man riding the box-car tops, like in some movie with them railroad cops He's still out looking for a job on a windy summer's night With clothes from missions and second hand shops, looking for work in the harvest of hops Or, wheat, or whatever might make his future look bright Listen now, won't you hit those air brakes, I've got the kind of FAITH that it takes To bring that glory train down around the Bend Yes, won't you hit those air brakes? Before this whole earth finally shakes In that FULLNESS of time, just before the end Then the conductor leaves that steam engine, looking forward to doing some bum in That hobo starts to scramble down the side, I know you understand Like a god mete-ing out judgment for sin, that cop's determined to win He reaches down that ladder to hammer the hobo's hand The old man's got no way to hold on, conductor thinks on more bum is gone As the train rolls on and on over that long, long River Bridge Taking pleasure in the power he's hooked on, That cop thinks the battle is won You know the old man finds his rest in that valley over the Ridge Listen now, won't you hit those air brakes, I've got the kind of FAITH that it takes To bring that glory train down around the Bend Yes, won't you hit those air brakes? Before this whole earth finally shakes In that FULLNESS of time, just before the end Now, people I am telling you true, this song's a story 'bout me and you I dreamed I was that conductor dreaming of that Ghost Train I was up there with nothing left to do, but up and jump or my whole life was thru 'Til the reason for all this rhyme finally eased my pain There was a voice speaking right to me. 'bout whom could set my soul free Right here, in our heart, there is a way to hear and answer its Call 'Tho' there's a power and a principality, yet LOVE'S the ultimate reality That train stops NOW for whomever picks themselves up from the FALL Listen now, won't you hit those air brakes, I've got the kind of FAITH that it takes To bring that glory train down around the Bend Yes, won't you hit those air brakes? Before this whole earth finally shakes In that FULLNESS of time... Before this whole earth finally shakes In that FULLNESS of time... |