Texas Eagle

My Granddaddy was a railroad man
When I was young he took me by the hand
Dragged me to the station at the break of dawn
Said, "Boy, I got to show you somethin' 'fore it's gone"

She was blue and silver, she was right on time
We rode that Texas Eagle on the Mopac line

We had some sandwiches that Grandma packed
We rode to Palestine and hitchhiked back
Home in time for supper with a tale to tell
That night I dreamed I heard that lonesome whistle wail

When I got old enough to take the train alone
I ride that Texas Eagle down to San Antone

And nowadays they don't make no trains
Just the piggyback freighters and them Amtrak things
They shut the Eagle down a while ago
Sold it to the railroad down in Mexico

And every now and then that whistle's on my mind
I ride that Texas Eagle 'cross the borderline