Lyrics:

spoken:
That's that fast Special Streamline
Leavin' outta Memphis, Tennessee
Goin' into New Orleans
She runnin' so fast the hobos don't
Fool with this train. They stand on the
Track with their hat in their hands

I had a friend girl that mornin' was
Catchin' that train
She got up singin' this song:

Sings:
'Hey Dad, I'm sorry to leave my home
Lord, Lord, Lord, Lordy'

spoken:
She heard that 8:30 local blowin' that
Mornin'. She hadn't rid the train in a good while
She thought it'd have that Special Streamline
She heard at 8:30 local when she is comin'
To the line, declared up for that Streamline
Blowin' like this:

She said, 'Daddy, is that my train?'
I say, I ain't keepin' up with the train time
I'm tryin-a make a few dimes'
She dropped her head went to singin'
An cryin':

Sings:
'It's all right how you turn me down
I ain't got a dime

spoken:
After she called for a ticket
She heard this Special Streamline
Going 36 miles from Memphis, Tennessee
Make ya lonesome now
'Cause I hobo myself, sometimes

Man asks her, 'Where the other train?'
She told him she didn't know

If she heard a bell she could tell him all about it
As she dropped over that hill
And stopped off in the valley
She heard the bell begin to toll like this:

'Make a sound like a church bell toll'

Before she got to that ten mile tunnel
She blowed and throw'd on the airbrakes

Airbrakes!

When she got to that ten mile tunnel
She was gettin' close
She was tippin cars on automatic switch
Gettin' her water and coal on the fly
You could hear her when she was strikin'
That double iron like this:

When she run 'cross the last one
She squalled in

This girl looked out an seen that train
She commenced to singin' an cryin'

Sings:
'Hey, dad I don't wanna leave'
I believe I'll lose my mind'

When that train got a little closer
Down to New Orleans, she went around
That curve, you would hear her
When she's blowin' like this:

The people's always standin' at the station
Lyin' there to see that train come in
You would hear her when she squalls

spoken:
'Boy, ev'rywhere but here'