He rode the rails since the Great Depression
Fifty years out on the skids
He said "You don´t cross nobody
You´ll be all right out here kid."

Left my family in Pennsylvania
Searchin´ for work I hit the road
I met Frank in East Texas
In a freight yard blown through with snow
From New Mexico to Colorado
California to the sea
Frank he showed me the ropes sir
Just till I could get back on my feet

I hoed sugar beets outside of Firebaugh
I picked the peaches from the Marysville trees
They bunked us in a barn just like animals
Me and a hundred others just like me

We split up come the springtime
I never seen Frank again
´Cept one rainy night he blew by me on a grainer
Shouted my name and disappeared in the rain and wind

They found him shot dead outside of Stockton
His body lyin´ on a muddy hill
Nothin´ taken nothin´ stolen
Somebody killin´ just to kill

Late that summer I was rollin´ through the plains of Texas
A vision passed before my eyes
A small house sittin´ trackside
With the glow of the savior´s beautiful light
A woman stood cookin´ in the kitchen
Kid sat at a table with his old man
Now I wonder does my son miss me
Does he wonder where I am

Tonight I pick my campsite carefully
Outside the Sacramento yard
Gather some wood and light a fire
In the early winter dark

Wind whistling cold I pull my coat around me
Heat some coffee and stare out into the black night
I lie awake I lie awake sir
With my machete by my side

My Jesus your gracious love and mercy
Tonight I´m sorry could not fill my heart
Like one good rifle
And the name of who I ought to kill