I was riding Number Nine
(That was the Seaboard, this is Amtrak)
Heading south from Caroline
(Hunh? I'm heading south from Chicago)
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
(They use airhorns now)
I got in trouble, had to roam
(Now that sounds familiar)
I left my gal, left my home
(Me too)
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
But they're not whistles anymore)
Just a kid acting smart
(Not just kids do that)
I went and broke my darlin's heart
(Me too)
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
(That airhorn's not sounding cheerful)
They took me off the Georgia Main
(Once this would've been the El Capitan)
Locked me to a ball and chain
(Do they still do that?)
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
(Now that horn is sounding sad)
All my life I'll bear the shame
(I know, I know)
I'm a number not a name
(I remember that all right)
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
(Why do they keep blowing that horn?)
I'm locked here in this cell
(Not if I can get to California)
'Till my body's just a shell
(Kinda feels that way now)
And my hair turns white as snow
(It used to be dark brown)
I'll never see that gal of mine
(I will though, I hope)
Lord, I'm in Georgia doin' time
(Not yet anyway)
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
(Now I can hear it too)


©Richard