Train Song

Diesel Cats · 06 Trainsong

Have you heard the story of how we laid those rails
From sea to shining sea
Dispossessed the Indians, and hired the cheap Chinese
We stapled steel into the ground
To let our spirits roam around
With cash and blood and whistle stops
We built ourselves a home


     So here we are, on the bones of the buffalo
     We've come so far, far
     And when we're home
     We like to leave all our troubles behind
     We've come so far, far, far


Have you heard the story of how they try to stop
The slow trains carryin' death
They put their bodies on the rails
To bring the cargo down to rest
A train with bombs and missile parts
Face to face with a few strong hearts
And like old Indians take a stand
To keep us safe at home


     So here we are, on the bones of the buffalo
     We've come so far, far
     And when we're home
     We like to leave all our troubles behind
     We've come so far, far
     So here we are, on the bones of the Indians . . .
                                                                          Africans . . .
                                                                          immigrants . . .
                                                                          patriots . . .

Linn Brown - harmony vocals; Graham Bruce - trumpet; Diesel Cats - acoustic guitar, bass, alto sax.  Train sounds courtesy of Mobile Fidelity Productions of Nevada, copyright 1987, available on Bainbridge Records "Sounds of Trains, Volume 2," used by permission.