Levon Helm - A Train Robbery Lyrics
The foreman touched the cold steel linesThe rail bed was frozen with iceIn the distance an engine was keeping good timeThe steam whistle moaned just twiceDown in the cut past the old Tressel bridgeTwelve fine horses stoodMasked men shivered in the cold on the ridgeNot far from the Glendale woodsThe brass lamp shone from the swaying trainWhen the driver saw the red lightHer iron brakes sparked like silver rainAnd the metals screamed through the nightThe baggage man peered out to look for the faultWhen fear froze up his heartHe was staring down the barrel of an army coltThat threatened to tear him apartWe will burn your train to cindersSo throw the money on downOpen up your damned express carAnd jump down to the groundBut we won't touch that old womanand they claimedThey ain't offered no rewardFor Frank and Jesse JamesFrank and Jesse JamesIn long soldier's coats frayed with the yearsQuickly they scrambled aboardMen were the sweatin' and the women shed tearsAnd a preacher prayed to the LordWhen they opened the safe there was nothing for themSo they strode down through the trainWhat a miserable sight these desperate menRobbin' old folks for their gold, watch, chainsWe will burn your train to cindersSo throw the money on downOpen up your damned express carAnd jump down to the groundBut we won't touch that old womanand they claimedThey ain't offered no rewardFor Frank and Jesse JamesFrank and Jesse JamesNow some say the devil had taken his soulSome say his spirit survivedBut we all know he was nothin' but a Missouri farm boyJust fighting to stay aliveHigh above that railroad bedOn a ridge where the pines grow tallIf you listen to the wind, there's a ghost of a chanceYou can still hear old Jesse callWe will burn your train to cindersSo throw the money on downOpen up your damned express carAnd jump down to the groundBut we won't touch that old womanand they claimedThey ain't offered no rewardFor Frank and Jesse JamesFor Frank and Jesse James
