I had a job, i had a girl Had something going, mister, in this world I got laid off down at the yard Our love went bad, times got hard Now i work down at the car wash Where all it ever does is rain Don't you feel like you're a rider On a downbound train? She just said, "joe, i gotta go We had it once, we ain't got it anymore" She packed her bags, left me behind She bought a ticket on the central line Nights as i sleep, i hear that whistle whining I feel her kiss in the misty rain And i feel like i'm a rider On a downbound train Last night, i heard your voice You were cry-crying, oh so alone Said your love had never died You were waiting for me at home Put on my jacket, ran through the woods Ran 'til i thought my chest would explode There in the clearing, beyond the highway In the moonlight, our wedding house shone I rushed through the yard, i burst through the front door Head pounding hard, up the stairs i climbed The room was dark, our bed was empty, then i heard that long whistle whine And i dropped to my knees, hung my head and cried Now i swing a sledgehammer Working in the pouring rain Now don't it feel like you're a rider On a downbound train?