Текст пісні
Eddie rode the orphan train from Soho down to Arkansas
Every stop along the way they promised him a rubber ball
The train he rode, it had no plan, no families waiting on the way
Just town to town the train rolled in and tried to give a child away
I can't imagine what was told my little grandpa on that train
Was he lost in someone's lies or was he hot in all that pain?
Eddie rode the orphan train from Soho down to Arkansas
Every stop along the way they made him stand against the wall
Eddie landed on a farm, a lonely boy works like a man
They trained him well to earn his keep
A child of God should work the land
Eddie worked as the only son right up to his pardon age
And when the farm took on some men, well, Eddie never drew a wage
Eddie rode the orphan train from Soho down to Arkansas
And every stop along the way they promised him a rubber ball
As he fixed to leave that home, an unexpected child was born
A baby boy with ice blue eyes took Eddie's room and he showed no scorn
The family aged, the children grew, the foster parents' time did wane
Then when they read out the will, there was no Eddie, no orphan train
Eddie rode the orphan train from Soho down to Arkansas
Every stop along the way he lay down in a bed of straw
It's hard to guess where lies the rage deep inside an orphaned child
But Eddie somehow raised his kids with patient eyes, detached and mild
He passed on along the way, the papers hardly gave his name
Except to say he was survived by a family and an orphan train
Eddie rode the orphan train from Soho down to Arkansas
And he lived a long life, the only rule was God's law
Well, my baby's name is Ed, like his great-grandpa he rides trains
But now he rides the iron ghost, by day he eases someone's pain
And all along this blessed land of sometimes law and liberty
Just beneath our emerald soil lies old child's trains and misery
Eddie rode the orphan train from Soho down to Arkansas
Every stop along the way they promised him a rubber ball
Eddie rode the orphan train from Soho down to Arkansas