4-8-4 Blues

Don't bother waitin' up, my darling, I'm tied up once again

We plowed a herd of cattle cause the brakeman's drunk on gin

This hog's a highball bruiser, but it don't stand a chance

Against 50 head of heifers and a drunken Scot on pin

I got these 4-8-4 blues

And I'll see you in the morning once again

It ain't all sun and rainbows hauling freight across this land

Boxcars back there clackin' full of bullshit from Japan

I said it once before and I'll say it once again

The rail life is tough, just ask any other man

I got these 4-8-4 blues, honey

And I'm hauling all this freight for you

I've worked all my life cutting canyons for the take

But the brakeman got promoted and the cows got turned to steaks

I've spent your last twelve birthdays balanced on a trestle bridge

Deep down I'm sweating bullets that you'll take another man

I got these 4-8-4 blues

And I'm comin' back home for you

We made the stop in Colton, took coal in San Berdoo

But the bossman wants us rolling up to Barstow by high noon

I told him I've a wife and two lonely kids

He said tough luck now son, make the trip or hit the skids

I got these 4-8-4 blues, mama

And I'm grinding on the mainline once again

I got these 4-8-4 blues, mama

And I'm grinding on the mainline once again