Steel Rail Blues, ©1966 by Gordon Lightfoot

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 loving arms
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Well I've been out here many 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've been stood up, I've been shook down, I've been dragged into the sand
And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love

Well I've been 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 a-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

Now here I am with my hat in my hand
Standing 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