[Verse 1]

He rode the rails since the Great Depression

Fifty years out on the skids

He said, "You don't cross nobody

You'll be all right out here, kid"

[Verse 2]

Left my family in Pennsylvania

Searching for work, I hit the road

I met Frank in East Texas

In a freight yard blown through with snow

[Verse 3]

From New Mexico to Colorado

California to the sea

Frank, he showed me the ropes, sir

Just till I could get back on my feet

[Verse 4]

I hoed sugar beets outside of Firebaugh

I picked the peaches from the Marysville trees

They bunked us in a barn just like animals

Me and a hundred others just like me

[Verse 5]

We split up come the springtime

I never seen Frank again

'Cept one rainy night, he blew by me on a grainer

Shouted my name and disappeared in the rain and wind

[Verse 6]

They found him shot dead outside of Stockton

His body lying on a muddy hill

Nothing taken, nothing stolen

Somebody killing just to kill

[Verse 7]

Late that summer, I was rolling through the plains of Texas

A vision passed before my eyes

A small house sitting track-side

With the glow of the savior's beautiful light

[Verse 8]

A woman stood cooking in the kitchen

Kid sat at a table with his old man

Now I wonder, does my son miss me?

Does he wonder where I am?

[Verse 9]

Tonight I pick my campsite carefully

Outside the Sacramento yard

Gather some wood and light a fire

In the early winter dark

[Verse 10]

Wind whistling cold, I pull my coat around me

Heat some coffee and stare out into the black night

I lie awake, I lie awake, sir

With my machete by my side

[Verse 11]

My Jesus, your gracious love and mercy

Tonight, I'm sorry, could not fill

My heart like one good rifle

And the name of who I ought to kill