Westbound #9 The Flaming Ember Catching the westbound number nine Gonna leave this town, leave it far behind Gonna leave while I've got my peace of mind On the westbound number nine Sittin' on the bank of Holy Creek down by the county line I can hear the sound of Old Boss and Lazy Horse--he's howlin' right on time He's howlin' at the sound of the #9 comin' down the line And my mind catches a ride on the westbound number nine And my mind catches a ride on the westbound number nine Catching the westbound number nine Gonna leave this town, leave it far behind Gonna leave while I've got my peace of mind On the westbound number nine My Pa is with his moonshine friends Drinkin Deacon Jones' bathtub gin Deacon Jones preachin' about savin' souls Yellin' out how the whole town is full of sin But like Pa and all the rest He tries to look down Bobbie Sue's low-cut dress And my mind catches a ride on the westbound number nine And my mind catches a ride on the westbound number nine Ma, I see you're ashamed to look me in the face As if I was nothing but a past mistake Sittin' there at night when Pa comes stumblin' in Full of the Deacon's bathtub gin Swearin' and a-cussin' that I wasn't no kin I heard his name but Ma knows what he should have been Westbound number nine Gonna leave this town, leave it far behind Gonna leave while I've got my peace of mind On the westbound number nine Catching the westbound number nine Gonna leave this town, leave it far behind Gonna leave while I've got my peace of mind On the westbound number nine