Long black engine keeps a rollin' along the wheels goin' clickety clack
She's carrying me towards that eastern seaboard Louisiana I ain't a coming back
And I sit all alone in an empty box listenin' to the engine roar
And I see the world as she oughta be seen through the crack in this boxcar door
A hobo's life is a lonely life and I'm a restless son of a gun
So I'll keep ridin' these ribbons of steel and wait for my setting sun
And I sit all alone in an empty box listenin' to the engine roar
And I see the world as she oughta be seen through the crack in this boxcar door
Engineer is a pullin' her down I reckon we're gonna stop
And I'll be dodging that man with the stick I hear him a walking on top
And I sit all alone in an empty box listenin' to the engine roar
And I see the world as she oughta be seen through the crack in this boxcar door
Now some folks think I'm a crazy man and all other boes like me
But I'll let them battle the woes of the world and I'll die happy and free
And I reckon I'll die in an empty box listenin' to the engine roar
I'll take a long last look at the world that I love through a crack in this boxcar door
