I was born in Dixie in a boomer shack
Just a little shanty by the railroad track
The humming of the drivers was my lullaby
And a freight train whistle taught me how to cry

[Chorus]
I got the freight train blues
Lordy, lordy, lordy
Got 'em in the bottom of my ramblin' shoes
When the whistle blows, I got to go
Oh, lordy, guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues

Well, airplanes and autos all leave me cold
And a steamboat whistle never stirs my soul
The only thing that makes me wanna navigate
Is the wildcat whistle on a southbound freight

[Chorus]

Well, my daddy was a fireman and my momma dear
She was the only daughter of an engineer
Sister loves a brakeman and it is no joke
It's a wonder how she keeps a good man broke

[Chorus]
Now, I've rambled through the cities and I've traveled through the towns
And I never can find a place to stop and settle down
Every time I find a place I'd like to stay
A freight train hollers and I'm on my way

[Chorus]