[1] Standing on the sidetrack at the [5] south end of [1] town
On a dry hot dusty August day, the [5] steam pipe blowin' down
The [1] fireman with his long oil can [5] oiling the old valve [1] gears
Waiting for the fast mail train, the [5] semaphore to [1] clear

The engineer in the ol' high cab, his gold watch in his hand
Looking at the waterglass and lettin' down the sand
Rolling out on the old main line, takin' up the slack
Gone today but so they say tomorrow he'll be back

[1] Oh if I [5] could [4] re-[1]-turn to those [4] boyhood days of [5] mine
And that [1] green light on the southern, southern rail-[5]-road [1] line

Creeping down the rusty rails of the weed-grown branch line
The section houses gray and white by the yard limit sign
The hoggers call the old highball, no more time to wait
Rollin' down to Birmingham with a ten car local freight

The whistle scream with a hiss of steam, the headlight gleams clear
The drivers roll on the green and gold, getting mighty near
Handing up the orders to the engine crew on time
It's the Alabama great southern AGS railroad line