Well I got my mail late last night
 
 A letter from a girl who found the time to write
 
 To her lonesome boy somewhere in the night
 
 She sent me a railroad ticket too
 
 To take me to her loving arms
 
 And the big steel rail
 
 Gonna carry me home to the one I love 
 
  
  Well I been out here many a long days
 
 I haven't found a place that I could call my own
 
 Not a two bit bed to lay my body on
 
 I been stood up I been shook down
 
 I bin dragged into the sand
 
 And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love
  
 
 Well I been up tight most every night
 
 Walking along the streets of this old town
 
 Not a friend to tell my troubles to
 
 My good old car she done broke down
 
 'Cause I drove it into the ground
 
 And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love
  
 
 Well look over yonder across the plain
 
 The big drive wheels a-pounding along the ground
 
 Gonna get on board and I'll be homeward bound
 
 Now I ain't had a home cooked meal
 
 And Lord I need one now
 
 And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love
  
 
 Now here I am with my head in the sand
 
 Standing on the broad highway will you give a ride
 
 To a lonesome boy who missed the train last night
 
 I went in town for one last round
 
 And I gambled my ticket away
 
 And the big steel rail won't carry me home to the one I love