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

Searching 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 until 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
Except 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 lying on a muddy hill
Nothing taken, nothing stolen
Somebody killing just to kill
Late that summer, I was rolling through the plains of Texas
A vision passed before my eyes
A small house sitting track-side
With the glow of the savior´s beautiful light
A woman stood cooking 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