I hear it,
still down the tracks a ways,
comin’ uphill, dragging cars of coal
creepin’ up on me, as far as I can see  
it ain’t reached the crest  

when it does,
and starts steam rollin’ down
it can blow its horn all the eternal day
I won’t be able to get out the way  
but no soul does    

some don’t ever hear it behind them  
and that be a kind of deafness I want to hear  
what you don’t know, you sure can’t fear  
but few folks are so lucky    

others hear it screamin’  
even in their sleep, I see them  huffin’
on **** and breathin’ in deep, downing beer
like it was their momma’s milk  
that train comin’ downhill  
forever to them  

I been thanking the good lord
that one back there has a bit yet to climb  
for I still see some sun shinin’
on those rails, some spikes  
not quite rusted stiff      

wait, what’s that I see?    
how’d you know it was comin’ for me?  
today of all days, when I was sippin’ sweet wine,
still hungry, about to have
a bite more to eat