Long black engine keeps a rollin' along the wheels goin' clickety clack
She's carrying my torch that eastern seaboard Louisiana I ain't a coming back

And I sit all alone in an empty box listen to the engine roar
And I see the world as she oughta be seen through a crack in this boxcar door

A hobo's life is a lonely life and I'm a restless son of a gun
So I'll keep ridin' these ribbons of steel and wait for my setting sun

And I sit all alone in an empty box...

Engineer is a pullin' her down reckon we're gonna stop
I'll be dodging that man at the stick I hear him a walking on top

And I sit all alone in an empty box...

Well some folks think I'm a crazy man and all of hoboes like me
And I'll let them bother no rose of the world and I'll die happy and free

And I reckon I'll die in an empty box listen to the engine roar
I'll take a long last look at the world that I love through a crack in a boxcar door