Thereabouts I came across another empty hand

Another tin cup shaken by some raggedy old man

Acting blind and keeping time with his thin white cane

He said that Jesus Christ and Judas rode the Desperation Train



I've been torn down and rebuilt again

Felt the cold fire of madness as it ran through my veins

Signals from the green flag

Steam rising in the front cab

I believe we'd left it all behind



On the Desperation Train, they came

All the king's horses and all the king's men

For all those who ride won't be denied

For we all have rode the Desperation Train



Into view the ice truck flew with a smiling man aboard

All pink cheeks and flashing teeth in a bright white unifo

take the strain

But Charlie Chaplin and Lou Costello rode the Desperation Train



And I've played hard and waited in vain

Seen the red sun of sadness slowly sinking in my brain

I've been driving in the long spikes

Laying rails in the cold night

I believe we'd left it all behind



On the Desperation Train, they came

All the king's horses and all the king's men

For all those who feel fate turns the wheel

Of the last car home on the Desperation Train



We've all been there, been born too late

From Joan of Arc to Norma Rae



Men without shame, we came

The last on this line and freed from our chains

For all those who chose the road leading home

We'll never put them back together again



For all those who ride, they won't be denied

For we all have rode the Desperation Train