spoken)

The birthday party was over toys were scattered here and there

Seven candles laid by the last piece of cake in front of an empty chair

A mother said son I know you're disappointed but please

Try to understand

Your daddy's been awfuly busy cause he's a big railroad man

So you go on to sleep now she kissed him and turned out the light

Moments later a window opened and the young boy slipped out

Into the night

He was on his way to the depot the express wasn't due till ten

But they they just might run a special if they knew that dad was comin' in

The mighty scream of the 9:15 tore through the winter night

The whirl of the wheels and the clang of the steel

Jarred the country side

The southbound freight was running late desperate to make up time

When a giant of a man with a sack in his hand

Leaped off like a mountain lion

He hit and rolled like an old pro and he got up off the ground

He brushed the snow from off his grimy clothes and said

Hey kid what's the name of this town

The frightened boy said Grandville sir

The man said well what do ya know

Ha I used to live in this little one horse town

I guess about six or maybe it was seven years ago

I told my wife when I left here that I'd be coming back in style

Ha oh well anyway it looks like I'm back I guess

I just might as well visit awhile

So if you'll be so kind as to point the way to the Joneses

Why I'll go now and leave you be

The young boy said sir the only Joneses that live around here

Is my mama and my daddy and me

Course dad he's been gone a long time now

Course now he don't want to be ye understand

It's just that daddy's got lots of important things to do

You see he's a big railroad man

He sends me birthday presents and mama reads me what he writes

In his last letter daddy promised that he was gonna

Try and make it home tonight

The old man scratched the side of his head and he said

Grandville Grandville I thought you said Denville

Oh well I guess that's natural mistake

Now if you'll just point the way to the depot

Why I'll be checking on the next fast freight

Tell you what you run on home now and you tell your mom

To go ahead and fix up your daddy's room

Cause I've got the strangest feeling

That your daddy just might be coming home pretty soon