Santa Fe Train (4:51)

It was 1880 out in New Mexico
I went to work on the new railroad
Days were hot on that white desert sand
Time moves slow like the Rio Grande

There were cowboys, miners, and gamblers and such
It’s a mean old town I’ll tell you this much
No one knows your name, a friend you won’t find
They’ll cut you down for your last gold dime

You know me honey, I’ll be fine
Don’t you worry, don’t you cry
And I’ll be coming home to you

Well my sweet love I can’t wait to hold
All that shines ain’t always gold
By the time this letter will find you
I’ll be riding back East by the harvest moon

It was late September in the White Oak Saloon
When a band of outlaws came riding through
I was to leave early on the morning train
My pockets full of my hard-earned pay

He said everyone your hands in air
It’s your money or your life, this I swear
I said that that’s the one thing I cannot do
Then he reached in his coat, a pistol he drew

Shots rang out, bullets did fly
Many men fell, many a man died
The next morning out in the pouring rain
He was headed home on the Santa Fe train