[Verse 1]
I sat and watched the midnight train
And sang myself a song
The only one I ever loved
Done me wrong, gone
Well, I travel this world
From the mountains to the sea
And nothin' feels the way it did
Before I left ol' Tennessee

[Verse 2]
Well, I tried my hand as a brakeman
Before I caught that train
It took me far away from home
Across those western plains
Where I searched the towns for love
And I searched the hills for gold
Tryin' to keep safe and warm
Like before I left my home

[Verse 3]
Ten long years done come and gone
Since my love let me down
And I hopped that Santa Fey
Started roamin' 'round
And these hobos and bullies
Sure look a lot like me
Nothin' looks the way it did
Before I left old Tennessee