Standin' at the station, waiting for my train
Standin’ at the station, waiting for my train
I was out there, sleeping in the rain

My mama said, 'papa's dead and gone’
My mama said, 'papa's dead and gone'
Didn't have no lovin' pillow to lay my head on

Hundred thousand miles, baby, away from home
Hundred thousand miles, baby, away from home
My mama is sick, my papa is dead and gone

I asked the operator, 'how long the train been gone' (Been gone a long time)
I asked the operator, ’how long the train been gone’
'Your train been gone ever since this morn’''

And the train I ride is eighteen coaches long
And the train I ride is eighteen coaches long
I'm a poor boy, I’m a long way from my home

I'm a poor boy, ain't got nowhere to stay
I'm just a poor boy, ain't got nowhere to stay
Since everybody sure done drove me away

I was down in Cincinnati, baby, on the [hog?]
I was down in Cincinnati, baby, on the [hog?]
I'm drinking muddy water, sleeping in a hollow log