My pocket book was empty,
My heart was filled with pain.
Standing by the water tower,
Waiting for a train.

Good Morning Mister Railroad man
What time does your train roll by.
At nine-sixteen, and two-fourty-four,
And twentyfive minutes 'till five.

At nine-sixteen, and two-fourty-four,
And twentyfive minutes 'till five.
I thank you Mister Railroad Man,
I'm gonna watch your train roll by.

Well I got off in Danville
I met up with a Danville Girl.
You can bet your life she was out of sight.
She wore them Danville curls

She took me in her parlor
She treated me nice and kind
She put me in the notion
Of bummin' all the time.

She wore her hat on the back of her head
Like the high tone women all do
And the very next train that come down the line
I bid that girl adieu

I pulled my cap down over my eyes
And went walking down the track
I caught a ride on the next freight train
And I never did look back.

Hey, hey, hey, hey,
Hey, hey, hey.
I caught a ride on the next freight train
And I never did look back.

Thanks to Leighton Thomas [songs2play@yahoo.co.uk] for providing these lyrics.

June 20, 2014 - Jason has clled my attention to the fact that Tom sings some different words on different recording of this song.

Alternate verse 1:

My pocket book was empty,
My heart was filled with pain.
A thousand miles away from home
Sleeping in the rain.

Another smaller change occurs in verse 4. Instead of "she was out of sight" he sings, "she was all right". "All right" seems to fit the meter beter but "out of sight" is more on track with the train theme.

Either way you prefer your song, it's still pure Paxton!