Track 9 of the album Last Light on 40 · 2020
The Last Train Out of Harlan Junction
“Rain on the platform and one flickering lamp at Harlan Junction. I imagined the train was already gone and wrote about whoever was left on the bench.”
rock ballad · train ballad · americana rock · 4:34
Lyrics
Rain on the platform at Harlan Junction One old bench and a flickering lamp I'm sixty years old with a canvas duffel And a ticket stub gone soft and damp I drove these roads for thirty years Never took the train, never had the time Now my knees say pull over, son And the whistle's calling out my line Let the last train roll, let it carry me home Through the rain and the dark, I won't ride it alone I've got my mistakes and a few good friends And a daughter at the end of the line who forgives Oh, let the last train roll, let it carry me on There's a light in the window and it's burning till dawn A conductor in a coat of faded blue Says mind the gap, sir, and I tip my cap I haven't had a stranger look me in the eye So kindly since I don't know when Let the last train roll, let it carry me home Through the rain and the dark, I won't ride it alone I've got my mistakes and a few good friends And a daughter at the end of the line who forgives Oh, let the last train roll, let it carry me on There's a light in the window and it's burning till dawn Every mile I missed, every birthday I blew I'm riding it back, I'm coming to you Hold on, hold on, I'm almost there One more bend of rails and a prayer Let the last train roll, let it carry me home Through the rain and the dark, I won't ride it alone I've got my mistakes and a few good friends And a daughter at the end of the line who forgives Oh, let the last train roll, let it carry me on There's a light in the window and it's burning till dawn Let it roll, let it roll Light in the window, I'm coming home