Album: Expect No Mercy (1977)

Gone Dead Train

It's a gone dead train
Yes, it's a gone dead train
My engine was pumpin' steam
And I was grindin' at you hard and fast
Burnin' down the rails, tryin' to heat the way
Haulin' ass and ridin' up the track
And I laughed at the conductor who was tellin' me my coal
It would never last
But then the fire in my boiler
Up and quit before I came
Ain't no empty cellar
Like a gone dead train
Once was at a time when I could
Mama shave 'em dry
And raise a fever ice-down chill
Waitin' at the station
With a heavy loaded sack
Savin' up and holdin' just to spill
Shootin' my supply through my demon's eye
Instead of holdin' my time, I hope I will
But then the fire in my boiler
Up and quit before I came
There ain't no empty cellar
Needs a gone dead train
Yes it's a gone dead train
I'm gonna teach it to learn now, now
It's a gone dead train
Yes it's a gone dead train
I'm gonna teach it to learn now, now
It's a gone dead train
Gonna teach it, gonna teach it to learn
There ain't no easy day
When your daily run's a downhill pull
And there ain't no easy way
Wishin' for some jelly roll
There ain't no switch been made
To make your juicy lemon find
A spring to run a dry well full
But then the fire in my boiler
Up and quit before I came
Ain't no empty cellar
Needs a gone dead train
Yes it's a gone dead train
I'm gonna teach it to learn
You know it's a gone dead train
Gonna teach it, gonna teach it to burn
It's a gone dead train
It's a gone dead train, you gotta learn
It's a gone dead train
Gonna teach it, gonna teach it, gonna teach it to burn.
Words and music by Jack Nitzsche & Russ Titelman
(copyright 1971 warner--tamerlane pub. corp.)
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