I remember the days of growing up
When we were young and wild and free
With mama and daddy watchin' over us
I remember they told me
Keep your back to the darkness of this world
Always know your own heart, son
Tell us, what will you do with your life
Oh, when all is said and done
And every night, I'd hear the thunder
Of the rollin' midnight train
And I'd hear that lonesome whistle blow
Callin' out my name
I remember the day I met my girl
When she was all of seventeen
Dancin' like an angel
To a love song serenade
I'd take her ridin' in my daddy's car
We'd go deep into those fields
And share the secrets of our youth
That no darkness could conceal
And every night, we'd hear the thunder
Of the rollin' midnight train
And I'd hold her close and swear our love
Could never fade away, oh, yeah
Now Barry Glenn, he was my best friend
Through those reckless summer days
And we rode our bikes to the riverside
And wished our lives away
When he was eighteen, he joined the Marines
But he was too wild to be tamed
Yeah, he survived and came back alive
But we were never were the same, oh, no
Now I'm a man and I understand
What it means to be alone
But I spend my nights with my own June bride
Got a love that's carved in stone
So keep your back to the darkness of this world
Always know your own heart, son
Remember who you are and who you were
And where is that you come from
Yeah, and I still hear the thunder
Of the distant midnight train
It's rumblin' down those phantom rails
Of my memory
Yeah, I still hear the thunder
Oh, of a rollin' midnight train
And I'd hear that lonesome whistle blow
Callin' out my name
To roll me home
Roll me on down that line
Roll me home, roll me on down that line