THE NORTH BOUND TRAIN (Paul O’Brien)

The main line passed right by our door

Nine an hour, maybe more

And I prayed at night to god, my soul to keep

And the freight trains would rock me to sleep

And I prayed at night to god, my soul to keep

And the freight trains would rock me to sleep

I can still hear the wind

Still feel the rain

I can still count the carriages

Of the north bound train

When I was twelve we moved away

To a place with grass and fields where we could play

But I’d lie in my bed at night and weep

No freight trains to rock me to sleep

But I’d lie in my bed at night and weep

No freight trains to rock me to sleep

I can still hear the wind

Still feel the rain

I can still count the carriages

Of the north bound train

Well I grew up and learned how to pretend

Lying in the dark at the day’s end

I’d pretend that the lord my soul would keep

And that the freight trains were rocking me to sleep

I’d pretend that the lord my soul would keep

And that the freight trains were rocking me to sleep

I can still hear the wind

Still feel the rain

I can still count the carriages

Of the north bound train

I get older and further away

But I still use that trick, to this day

I pretend that the lord my soul will keep

And that the freight trains are rocking me to sleep

I pretend that the lord my soul will keep

And that the freight trains are rocking me to sleep

I can still hear the wind

Still feel the rain

I can still count the carriages

Of the north bound train