What is it About Trains?

What is it About Trains?
01/31/2006
by Tom Flannery copyright 2006

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What is it about trains
that gets into the head
when he heart is busy aching
alone in a double bed
what is it about the mystery
of where she's gonna go
tracks to the horizon
to catch the overflow
what is it about trains
what is it about trains

what is it about that whistle
and losing track of time
when you start counting coal cars
and forgetting about the dime
and the pennies and the nickels
all laid in a row
trying to stretch a dollar
with no place left to go
what is it about trains
what is it about trains

what is it about the river
that thrills and terrifies
all depending on her wishes
as she rolls on by
what is it about this little town
that gets under the skin
and never apologizes
for the shape she leaves you in
what is it about trains
what is it about trains

What is it about that station
with it's grandeur hanging on
like reluctant darkness struggling with
that first crack of dawn
what is it about trains
that keeps me up at night
waiting for that rumble
to make me feel alight
what is it about trains
what is it about trains

what is it about the river
that thrills and terrifies
all depending on her wishes
as she rolls on by
what is it about this little town
that gets under the skin
and never apologizes
for the shape she leaves you in
what is it about trains
what is it about trains

what is it about that whistle
and losing track of time
when you start counting coal cars
and forget about the dime
and the pennies and the nickels
all laid in a row
trying to stretch a dollar
with no place left to go
what is it about trains
what is it about trains