Lyrics

Southwest Chief

Words by Karl Obermeyer, Music by Capital Sons

Riding all night through the deserts of New Mexico
Through Flagstaff, Arizona onto Barstow, California
The man next to me tells me how the West was won
And we wash the white man’s sins down with whiskey and some gin

The train conductor says we’re gonna be late
The train conductor says it’s gonna be a while till our next stop
There’s a long connection in Williams Junction tonight
So sit right back down in your chair and smile

It’s gonna be a while

There’s a woman down the aisle with a child asleep in her arms
They got on in Topeka, she’s got no money to feed her
I asked, “Where ya headed?” She just looked down and cried
She said, “Anywhere else will do, it’s time to start anew”

The train conductor says we’re gonna be late
The train conductor says it’s gonna be a while till our next stop
There’s a long connection in Williams Junction tonight
So sit right back down in your chair and smile

It’s gonna be a while
A while

The train conductor says we’re gonna be late
The train conductor says it’s gonna be a while till our next stop
The train conductor slightly hesitates
So sit back down and think about your life

It’s gonna be a while
A while
A while
A while