[Verse 1]
My mama told me, my papa told me, too
Now my mama told me, papa told me, too
Well, I wouldn't be here trying to sing these railroad blues

Wish I had a-listened, oh, to what my mama said
Wish I had a-listened, oh, to what my mama said
Well, I wouldn't be here trying to sleep in this cold iron bed

[Instrumental break]

[Verse 2]
Mister jailer, go away now, don't tell me no lies
Mister jailer, go away now, don't tell me no lies
Well, my train's going down, she's rolling down the line

Well, I went to the depot, never got there on time
Well, I went to the depot, never got there on time
Well, the train's going down, she's rolling down the line

[Instrumental break]

[Outro]
Well, my mama told me, my papa told me, too
Well, my mama told me, papa told me, too
Well, I wouldn't be here trying to sing these railroad blues
Wish I had a-listened to what my mama said
Wish I had a-listened to what my mama said
Then I wouldn't be here trying to sleep in this cold iron bed
Try not to push, there's people up here who are visibly shaken. So if everybody in the back would kinda like step back a pace or so, actually the sound is best about thirty feet out from the stage anyway, you can hear the P.A. and all that. So, uh, you know, consider those squashed in front, there but for the grace of God and all that