That Train

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Robert Hunter

One of the songs on Robert Hunter's first album, Tales Of The Great Rum Runners. It may also have been one the tracks recorded by Hunter when John Perry was working with him in England in 1974.

I see you standing at the station
With your undying hope in hand
You been standing there forever
Waiting for the midnight train to land
I sent a valentine to tell you
What you could have guessed before
But just in case you're still uncertain
That train don't run here any more

That train don't run here any more
Not like it used to run before
When it brought Lady from the city (note 1)
When it brought Stranger from the shore
Now it doesn't run here any more
That train don't run here any more

Polly, Polly, would you step inside the door?
Where you can't hear the howling of the train
If you don't look too hard at my decision (note 2)
I'll never, never tease you again

You were confused by changing faces
Yeah, but when you learn the rules they change the game
You can catch the drift but not the drifter
He don't put his hand inside the flame
I see you hanging from a window
The very one you saw clear through before
You don't need no crystal ball to tell you
That train don't run here any more

That train don't run here any more
Not like it used to run before
When it brought gravy from the city
When it brought seashells from the shore (note 3)
No, no it doesn't run here any more
That train don't run here any more

Polly, Polly, would you step inside the door?
Where you can't hear the howling of the train
If you don't look too hard at my decision (note 2)
I swear I'll never tease you again

You practised hard at what you do
So when it came around it came to you
Anyone you want to take along
With half an ear could join in your song
But when that train gets busted open
To show an empty safe inside
You get slapped out of your slumber
To find you don't have a face to hide

That train don't run here any more
Not like it used to run before
Brought the big red apple to the city
And it even carted off the core
Now it doesn't run here any more
That train don't run here any more
That train don't run here any more
That train don't run here any more
That train don't run here any more
[etc]