There's a shadow climbin' up them hills
I've seen it's been through the mill
We follow the mighty river as we roll
The nighttrain's gonna take me home
The nighttrain's gonna take me home

I'll try to put my letter in the mail
As soon as I get off of these roaring rails
There's still five-hundred miles to go
And my thoughts are with the one back home
My thoughts are with the one back home

The sun is sinkin' down in the lake
There's red,yellow,purple,blue and grey
There's but one thing more beautiful that I know
And that's the girl waitin' for me back home
that girl waitin' for me back home

There's a black couple wantin' the go to bed
So I'm down the isle smokin' cigarettes
There are people singin' songs from long ago
Just like me they're headin' for home
Just like me they're headin' for home

With one-hundred miles away from bein' with you
I shave myself like a fresh groom would do
I brush my teeth and run that comb
I'm good and ready for the one back home
I'm good and ready for the one back home

I get off at the end of the line
To be greeted by that pretty babe of mine
But there have not been eight hours in the day
And I leave my baby home alone to stay
I leave my baby home alone to stay