Now, when I left for Ripley, the weather was kinda cool
Now when I left fo' Ripley, the weather was kinda cool
Said boys, y'all be careful, prob'ly you might catch the flu

Now, I swung that manifest, I went down in that freight rail box
Now I hung that manifest, I went down in that freight rail box
Now I couldn't hear the special agent when he come tippin' over the top

Now them special agents up the country, sure is hard on a man
Now them special agents up the country, they sure is hard on a man
Now they will put him off when he hongry, and won't even let him ride no train

Now, I was settin' down in Centralia[1], and I sure was feelin' bad (2)
Now they wouldn't let me ride fast train, they put me off on a doggone drag

Now special agent, special agent, put me off close to some town
Special agent, special agent, put me off close to some town
Now I got to do some recording and I oughta be recording right now.