The Texas Silver Zephyr

(Russell Steagall)



She was a young and pretty Coleman County farm girl

Never been more than fifty miles from home

I was just a drifter I was living off the land

Spent the summer on her daddy's farm.



In the evening we'd walk along the railroad

We'd hear that lonesome whistle in the night

And she'd pretend we road the rails to Denver

'Cause her head was full of flashin' neon lights.



Twas that big old shiny diesel as it rounded Carter's bend

Was enough to make a young girl want to roam

She'd pretend she rode those shiny rails all around the world

And had the Texas Silver Zephyr bring her home.



As summer work was over and restless got to me

I kept talkin' bout the places I would go

Then her young head got to spinnin' for the things she'd never seen

So she followed me to Denver in the fall.



Then jobs got scarce in central Colorado

And Denver winter nights got awful cold

Just one old army blanket was the only one we had

No money for the oil to run the stove.



Yes, that big old shiny diesel as it rounded Carter's bend

Was enough to make a young girl want to roam

But through all those hungry nights the only promise that I made

I had the Texas Silver Zephyr take her home.



When she started feelin' bad she didn't tell me

She had a way of keepin' problems all her own

So I didn't know her troubles with the baby

Before I could get a doctor she was gone.



Lord, I know it's not the way she really wanted things to be

In her dreams she had a pullman all her own

But she'd be proud of me to know I kept my promise

And had the Texas Silver Zephyr take her home.



And had the Texas Silver Zephyr take her home...