19 years young I had the world ahead of me
Streets paved with gold was all I could see
But as I got older all that gold turned to brass
So I started to dread my hair and started smokin' grass.

I walked across my town to where the trains were parked
I sat and watched and waited til one rolled after dark.
I hoped up on that freight train and rode it out of town
Without a care or worry as I drank my whiskey down.

(Chorus)
Freight train, freight train goin so fast
Puttin me to sleep as she rattles down the track
Wake up on the rails I don't know where I've been
I'm ridin on that train I don't care where I'm goin

Met up with Boxcar Red in a dirty Reno yard
He told me "go back home son, you've wandered off too far"
Ol Red was a Scotsman descended from Macbeth
He rode the backs of rattlers til he took his last breath.

My other friend who rode the rails never made it home
But he died doin' what he loved and all he'd ever known.
I know it's a hard life, and it ain't for you or me
But ridin rails – I promise – you won't ever feel so free.

(Chorus)

Well I was ridin back from Reno with the sun on my back
I made Red a promise I'd stay off the tracks.
And every now and then I dream of catchin out
But I know I'll find the ghost or Red somewhere on my route.

Freight train, freight train, goin so fast
Puttin me to sleep as she rattles down the tracks
Wake up on the rails I don't know where I've been
I'm ridin on that train I don't care if its the end!