Another tin cup shaken by some raggedy old man
 Acting blind and keeping time with his thin white cane
 He said that Jesus Christ and Judas rode the Desperation Train

 I've been torn down and rebuilt again
 Felt the cold fire of madness as it ran through my veins
 Signals from the green flag
 Steam rising in the front cab
 I believe we'd left it all behind

 On the Desperation Train, they came
 All the king's horses and all the king's men
 For all those who ride won't be denied
 For we all have rode the Desperation Train

 Into view the ice truck flew with a smiling man aboard
 All pink cheeks and flashing teeth in a bright white unifo
take the strain
 But Charlie Chaplin and Lou Costello rode the Desperation Train

 And I've played hard and waited in vain
 Seen the red sun of sadness slowly sinking in my brain
 I've been driving in the long spikes
 Laying rails in the cold night
 I believe we'd left it all behind

 On the Desperation Train, they came
 All the king's horses and all the king's men
 For all those who feel fate turns the wheel
 Of the last car home on the Desperation Train

 We've all been there, been born too late
 From Joan of Arc to Norma Rae

 Men without shame, we came
 The last on this line and freed from our chains
 For all those who chose the road leading home
 We'll never put them back together again

 For all those who ride, they won't be denied
 For we all have rode the Desperation Train