Well I got my mail late last night a letter from a girl who found the time to write To her lonesome boy somewher's in the night She sent me a railroad ticket too to take me to her lovin' arms And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love Well I been up tight most every night walkin' around the streets of this old town Not a friend around 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 I look over yonder across that plain The big drive wheels a poundin' 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 Well here I am with my hat in my hand Standin' 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 I gambled my ticket away And the big steel rail won't carry me home to the one I love