Well, I was born south of the river on the wrong side of the railroad tracks 
We were all dirt poor and hungry, barely kept a shirt on our backs 
I used to lay awake and shiver next to my kin’folk in the winter chill 
Listenin’ for that midnight rumble to come roarin’ down the hill 

Thought it was a jet plane, but it was just an ol’ train 
Windin' its way down through history 
Thought I heard a voice say, "better call the right name 
Hop on board for eternity” 

Now here in LA, on the busy freeway, I’m tryin’ my best just to survive 
Stuck in the slow lane of a fast-pace city game, Lord I'm lucky to be alive 
In the heat of the day out on the truck bay, between unloadin’ them whiskey boxes 
Someone swears, “there must be more to life than death and taxes" 

Thought it was a jet plane, but it was just an ol’ train 
Windin' its way down through history 
Thought I heard a voice say, “better call the right name 
Hop on board for eternity" 

Maybe tomorrow, I’ll see what I can borrow, head on back where I was raised 
In black earth country where life’s slow an’ easy and a new dawn’s somethin’ to be praised 
Guess what we believe or refuse to believe, what’s true, in fact remains the same 
Win or lose, we all get to choose and in the end there’ll be no one else left to blame 

Thought it was a jet plane, but it was just an ol’ train 
Windin' its way down through history 
Thought I heard a voice say, “better call the right name 
Hop on board for eternity" 

Hear what the voice says, call “Jesus” 
Hop on board for eternity