My engine was pumpin' steam
And I was grindin' at you hard and fast
I was burnin' down the rails, to heat the way
Haulin' a** and ridin' up the track
So I laugh at the conductor who was telling me
My coal would never last
Then the fire in my boiler
Up and quit before I came
It ain't no empty cellar
Need a gone dead train
Once was at a time when I could
Mama shave 'em dry
And raise a fever-calmin' ice-down chill
Waitin' at the station
With a heavy loaded sack
Savin' up and holdin' just to spill
Shootin' the supply from my demon's eye
Instead of waiting for a time to hope I will
When the fire in my boiler
Up and quit before I came
There ain't no empty cellar
Need a gone dead train
Oh it's a gone dead train
Gotta poke it to burn now, now
It's a gone dead train
Gotta teach it to learn now, now
There ain't no easy way
When a daily run's a downhill pull
And there ain't no easy day
Wishin' for some jelly roll
There ain't no switch been made
To let your juicy lemon find
A spring to run a dry well full
Then the fire in my boiler
Up and quit before I came
It ain't no empty cellar
Need a gone dead train
No, it's a gone dead train
You've got to help it to burn now, now
You know it's a gone dead train
You've got to teach it to burn now, now
You know it's a gone dead train
You've got to help it to burn now, now
You know it's a gone dead train
You've got to teach it to learn now, now
You know it's a gone dead train
You've got to help it to burn now, now
You know it's a gone dead train
You've got to teach it to burn now, now
You know it's a gone dead train
You've got to teach it to burn now, now
You know it's a gone dead train