Way out west an Arizona cowboy tends the herd

The dessert lies beneath a sky of blue

Far away, in brightest day, a ghostly sound is heard

The phantom of the rail comes into view



Hear that lonesome whistle callin'

On his lonely ear is fallin'

Loud and clear, just hear that lonesome wail

But it's just the ghost, the phantom of the rail



Little did he know the train was wrecked in '84

After it had crossed the Great Divide

Every year it tries again to make it just once more

If only to the California Line



Hear that lonesome whistle callin'

On the barren dessert fallin'

Loud and clear, just hear that lonesome wail

But it's just the ghost, the phantom of the rail



Clickity-clack along the track, it's boiler showin' red

As on it comes along the rusty rails

People that are ridin' in the cars have long been dead

Lost in time along the Phantom Trail



Hear that lonesome whistle callin'

On the barren dessert fallin'

Is it real to feel the very ground beneath him shake

As on it comes, the only run it ever makes



Cross here comes the phantom, as his eyes in wonder gaze

His pony shys and heads in for the brush

And as it comes upon him terror grips his heart, amazed

Leapin' to avoid it's onward rush



Hear that lonesome whistle callin'

On the barren dessert fallin'

Thought he saw the engineer, thought he heard him once more wail

As on he went, forever bent, on stayin' on the ghost train rail