When I was a young boy Roamin' on the railroad tracks Put copper pennies on the rails Locomotive come and squash 'em flat We'd run to fetch 'em back We'd run to fetch 'em back Summer nights at gramma's house Cozy in my bed Dreams of far off places And other lives to be led Swirling in my head Swirling in my head And there's a train in the distance There's a whistle calling There's a train in the distance Silver moonlight falling Now I am a grown man Turning in my sleep Debts and obligations Family ties run deep Promises to keep Promises to keep But there's a train in the distance There's a whistle calling There's a train in the distance There's a light rain falling You can ride that train To the far end of creation Away from everything And everyone you know You better make friends With your angels and your demons They will be riding with you Wherever you may go But, you have to go There's a train in the distance There's a whistle calling There's a train in the distance Autumn leaves are falling