Dan Tyminski - How Long Is This Train lyrics

How long is this train son I heard his fragile voice I didn't want to listen but there really was no choice It seems like it goes on forever and I waited for so long The old man's breath came slow and smelled of whiskey in the dawn On a cold November morning in the gentle mist of rain There's just so many reasons that people wait to meet a train And as I waited for my sister to come down the metal stairs He told me that his son had not been home in fifteen years And I barely seemed to notice the tears behind his face But his wishes were no strangers to the people in this place The old man stood there waiting for a young man dressed in blue Then he handed him a neatly folded flag and said for you He said your son he died a hero in the service of this flag The old man took it gently put it in his paper bag Then I left him in the rain there but I'd still hear his voice I try hard not to listen but there really is no choice On a cold November morning in the gentle mist of rain There's just so many reasons that people wait to meet a train How long is this train son I can hear the pouring rain