I was born in dixie in a boomer's shack Just a little shanty by a railroad track The hummin' of the drivers was my lullaby And a freight train whistle taught me how to cry I've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy Got 'em in the bottom of my ramblin' shoes And when the whistle blows, I've gotta go Oh lordy, guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues Well the aeroplanes and autos always leave me cold And the steamboat whistle never stirs my soul The only thing that makes me want to navigate Is a wildcat whistle on a south bound freight I've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy I got 'em in the bottom of my ramblin' shoes When the whistle blows, I've gotta go Oh lordy, guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues Well, my daddy was a fireman and my momma was dear She was the only daughter of an engineer My sister loves a brakeman and it is no joke It's a wonder how she keeps a good man broke I've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy Got 'em in the bottom of my ramblin' shoes When the whistle blows, I've gotta go Oh lordy, guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues Now I've rambled through the cities and I've traveled through the towns And I never can find a place to stop and settle down Every time I find a place I'd like to stay A freight train holler and I'm on my way I've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy Got 'em in the bottom of my ramblin' shoes When the whistle blows, I've gotta go Oh lordy, guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues