A Train Robbery Lyrics - Dirt Farmer - Levon Helm

The full moon touched the cold steel lines 

The rail bed was frozen with ice 

In the distance an engine was keeping good time 

The steam whistle moaned just twice 

Down in the cut past the old Tressel bridge 

Twelve fine horses stood 

Masked men shivered in the cold on the ridge 

Not far from the Glendale woods 

The brass lamp shone from the swaying train 

When the driver saw the red light 

Her iron brakes sparked like silver rain 

And the metals screamed through the night 

The baggage man peered out to look for the fault 

When fear froze up his heart 

He was staring down the barrel of an army colt 

That threatened to tear him apart 

We will burn your train to cinders 

So throw the money on down 

Open up your damned express car 

And jump down to the ground 

But we won't touch that old woman 

[Incomprehensible] and they claimed 

They ain't offered no reward 

For Frank and Jesse James 

Frank and Jesse James 

In long soldier's coats frayed with the years 

Quickly they scrambled aboard 

Men were the sweatin' and the women shed tears 

And a preacher prayed to the Lord 

When they opened the safe there was nothing for them 

So they strode down through the train 

What a miserable sight these desperate men 

Robbin' old folks for their gold, watch, chains 

We will burn your train to cinders 

So throw the money on down 

Open up your damned express car 

And jump down to the ground 

But we won't touch that old woman 

[Incomprehensible] and they claimed 

They ain't offered no reward 

For Frank and Jesse James 

Frank and Jesse James 

Now some say the devil had taken his soul 

Some say his spirit survived 

But we all know he was nothin' but a Missouri farm boy 

Just fighting to stay alive 

High above that railroad bed 

On a ridge where the pines grow tall 

If you listen to the wind, there's a ghost of a chance 

You can still hear old Jesse call 

We will burn your train to cinders 

So throw the money on down 

Open up your damned express car 

And jump down to the ground 

But we won't touch that old woman 

[Incomprehensible] and they claimed 

They ain't offered no reward 

For Frank and Jesse James 

For Frank and Jesse James