The foreman touched the cold steel lines
|
The rail bed was frozen with ice
|
In the distance an engine was keeping good time
|
The steam whistle moaned just twice
|
|
Down in the cut past the old Tressel bridge
|
Twelve fine horses stood
|
Masked men shivered in the cold on the ridge
|
Not far from the Glendale woods
|
|
The brass lamp shone from the swaying train
|
When the driver saw the red light
|
Her iron brakes sparked like silver rain
|
And the metals screamed through the night
|
|
The baggage man peered out to look for the fault
|
When fear froze up his heart
|
He was staring down the barrel of an army colt
|
That threatened to tear him apart
|
|
We will burn your train to cinders
|
So throw the money on down
|
Open up your damned express car
|
And jump down to the ground
|
|
But we won't touch that old pullman
|
She's southern and they claim
|
They ain't offer no reward
|
For Frank and Jesse James
|
Frank and Jesse James
|
|
In long soldier's coats frayed with the years
|
Quickly they scrambled aboard
|
Men were a sweatin' and the women shed tears
|
And a preacher prayed to the Lord
|
|
When they opened the safe there was nothing for them
|
So they strode down through the train
|
What a miserable sight these desperate men
|
Robbin' old folks for their gold watch chains
|
|
We will burn your train to cinders
|
So throw the money on down
|
Open up your damned express car
|
And jump down to the ground
|
|
But we won't touch that old pullman
|
She's southern and they claim
|
They ain't offer no reward
|
For Frank and Jesse James
|
Frank and Jesse James
|
|
Now some say the devil had taken his soul
|
Some say his spirit survived
|
But we all know he was nothin' but a Missouri farm boy
|
Just fighting to stay alive
|
|
High above that railroad bed
|
On a ridge where the pines grow tall
|
If you listen to the wind, there's a ghost of a chance
|
You can still hear ol' Jesse call
|
|
We will burn your train to cinders
|
So throw the money on down
|
Open up your damned express car
|
And jump down to the ground
|
|
But we won't touch that old pullman
|
She's southern and they claimed
|
They ain't offer no reward
|
For Frank and Jesse James
|
For Frank and Jesse James
|
|
-----------------
|
A Train Robbery
|
Levon Helm |