The birthday party was over toys were scattered here and there

Seven candles lay by the last piece of cake in front of an empty chair

A mother said son I know you're disappointed but please try to understand

Your daddy's been awfuly busy because you see he's a very big railroad man

So you go on to sleep now she kissed him turned out the light

But moments later a window opened and this little boy slipped out into the night

He was on his way to the depot the express wasn't due till ten

But who knows it might run a special if daddy's comin' in

That mighty scream of the 9:15 wripped through the winter night

And the whirl of the wheels and the clang of the steel

Seemed that jarred the country side

It was a southbound freight and it was runnin' late tryin' hard to make up time

When a great big man with a sack in his hand bound off that train like a lion

He hit the road like an old pro then he got up off the ground

Brushed the snow from off his grimy clothes

And he said hey kid what's the name of this town

The frightened boy said Grandville sir and the man said well what do you know

I used to live in this little ol' one horse town bout six or seven years ago

I told my wife when I left here that I was coming back in style

Ha oh well anyway I'm back I guess I might as well visit for awhile

So if you'll be so kind as to point the way to the Joneses

Well I'll go now and leave you be

And the young boy said the only Joneses that live around here sir

Is my mama and my daddy and me

Of course dad's been gone for a long time now

Course now he don't want to be ye understand

It's just that my daddy's got lotta important things to do

You see sir he's a very big railroad man

Oh he sends me birthday presents and mama reads me what he writes

In his last letter daddy promised that he was gonna try and make it home tonight

The man scratched the side of his head and said

Grandville Grandville I thought you said Denville

Oh well it's a kida natural mistake

Now if you'll just point the way to the depot

I'm gonna be checkin' in on the fast freight

I'll tell you what you do oh boy you run on home now

You tell your mom to go ahead and fix up your daddy's room

Cause I've got the strangest feeling

That your dad just might become home pretty soon