| C ‑ | Well, I got my mail late last night |
| C7 F | Letter from a girl who found the time to write |
| F – C | To her lonesome boy somewhere's in the night |
| F ‑ C | Sent me a railroad ticket too, to take me to her loving arms |
| Am G7 CEm AmG7 | And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love |
| CEm AmG7 | |
| C ‑ | Well, I been out here many long days |
| C7 F | I haven't found a place I can call my own |
| F – C | Not a two bit bed I can lay my body on |
| F ‑ C | I been stood up, I been shook down, and I've been dragged into the sand |
| Am G7 CEm AmG7 | And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love |
| F Em Am C | Ooh |
| FEm AmG7 C ‑ ‑ ‑ | Ooh |
| C ‑ | Well, I been uptight most every night |
| C7 F | Walking along the streets of this old town |
| F – C | Not a friend around to tell my troubles to |
| F ‑ C | My good old car, she done broke down, cause I drove it into the ground |
| Am G7 CEm AmG7 | And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love |
| CEm AmG7 | |
| C ‑ | Well, I look over yonder across the plain |
| C7 F | The big drive wheel comes pounding along the ground |
| F – C | Gonna get on board and I'll be homeward bound |
| F ‑ C | Now I ain't had a home-cooked meal, and Lord, I need one now |
| Am G7 CEm AmG7 | And the big steel rail gonna carry me home to the one I love |
| F Em Am C | Ooh |
| FEm AmG7 C ‑ ‑ ‑ | Ooh |
| C ‑ | Now here I am with my hat in my hand |
| C7 F | Standing on the broad highway, will you give a ride |
| F – C | To a lonesome boy, I missed the train last night |
| F ‑ C | I went into town for one last round, and I gambled my ticket away |
| Am G7 CEm AmG7 | And the big steel rail won't carry me home to the one I love |
| F Em Am C | Ooh |
| FEm AmG7 C ‑ ‑ ‑ | Ooh |