Nothing left in this old town
I felt I didn't have much choice
I jumped on board a west bound freight
It was there I heard the voice.....
"Boy, this here is my car"
"You keep the rules, and you'll be fine"
"I don't know you, you don't know me"
"Boy, this car is mine"
I squinted in the darkness
I tried to focus on the sound
That voice there in the boxcar
As rough as any I had found
I asked him where he came from
He spoke but wasn't clear
Everywhere and Nowhere
And right now from right here
Now boy, Keep your distance
Keep quiet, leave me be
I don't like conversation
You keep to you, and I to me
Just then, the train car shifted
That there's the final shunt
You're safe now boy inside this car
The rail men stopped their hunt
He said that there shunting noise
Is the starting of a song
The train soon will start moving
Everyone is moving on
While the cars are stagnant
You know, not moving, sitting still
The rail men all go hunting
For us hobo's , if you will
That shunting sound is heaven
It means we are onto who knows where
And frankly boy, you know deep down
It really isn't fair
I asked him what he meant by that
He said, I've said enough
As time goes by, you sound some smart
You'll pick up on this stuff
The silence then took over
He was sleeping, so did I
He was snoring quite contently
I couldn't find sleep, I wonder why?
About an hour later
He sparked a match and smoke
And again from in the darkness
The hobo, well, he spoke
Boy, you are a new one
You could have killed me where I lay
But, boy, I trust your scared some
So, I guess I'm safe today
T'was a time a decade back
Got knifed, real hard and deep
Taken by another jumper
While I tried to have a sleep
Hadn't make that choice before
Most times I'm here alone
But, it was cold and wintry like
And I threw this boy a bone
See, it's dangerous riding rail cars
We are all on here to hide
And sometimes, well then, most times
This is not a pleasant ride
You know you asked my name back there
I ain't heard it for so long
They call me "The Conductor"
I'd give my name but, I'd be wrong
Life out here ain't easy
Your head is on a swivel
Listen boy, this is the truth
Not just some hobo drivel
Even though we're many
You are still alone out here
Some you think are friends one day
Would **** you for a pint of beer
So, keep your distance, bide your time
The choice is up to you
Stay out here and roll the dice
And do what you must do
I listened as he rambled
Sorted words that I could keep
Then as sudden as he started
He stopped, and went to sleep
Do I ride the rails a no one?
Lose my name inside my mind?
Or do I travel 'cross the country?
To see just what it is I'd find
I'm lost with no direction
Staying stagnant, that I know
But, the life of The Conductor
Is that where I want to go
I heard the old man snoring
I huddled up and grabbed my stuff
Between the lines from The Conductor
I guess I wasn't all that tough
Back home there is a fellow
The blues man is his name
He reminds me of this fellow
They could be one and the same
Next time I hear the blues man
Or hear the whistle of a train
I'll think of The Conductor
The man who has no name