Verse 1
A telephone at one-thirty
Cut through the Denver night
A hospital in Philly
Spoke of his son’s plight
“There has been trouble late tonight.
Your son is in our care.”
He reached for one small travelling bag
And caught the night train there
Verse 2
The old train clattered through the night
On tired and battered rails
A thousand thoughts ran through his mind
As darkness veiled the plains
Station lights came into view
Then faded once again
Every mile drew closer still
To where his son now lay
Chorus
I’ll take the night train
East into the rain
One father chasing answers
Till I come home again
Verse 3
Almost two days later
The brakes screamed on the steel
He stepped onto the platform
Not knowing what he’d feel
One cab to County General
One ride across the town
Nothing else around him
Could ever slow him down
Verse 4
The doctors spoke in measured words
“He’ll need some time,” they said
He stood beside his broken son
And gently touched his head
Next stop was the local cops
“I need to know what’s true.
Who did this to my only boy?
Tell me what you knew.”
Verse 5
The sergeant shook his head and sighed
“We’ve heard those names before.
But witnesses don’t talk too much,
Not here… not anymore.”
He left without another word
Walked slowly through the rain
The nearest bar still had its lights
Though closing came again
He nursed a coffee by the wall
And quietly asked around
“Who were the men that did this, friend?
Who runs this part of town?”
Verse 6
An old man watched him from the bar
Then slowly pulled up near
“I’ve seen your face since yesterday…
You’re looking for someone here.”
He spoke so no one else could hear
“I’ve had enough myself.
Those boys have ruled these streets too long,
While justice gathered dust.”
He folded up a paper napkin
And wrote a single name
“You never heard a word from me…”
Then quietly walked away
Verse 7
He walked back out into the rain
The napkin in his hand
One name was folded in his coat
One chance to understand
He wandered through the city streets
Where strangers passed him by
Looking at the doors ahead
Down every street he tried
Verse 8
A faded green door, number 274
Half hidden by the rain
He knocked three times and stood quite still
Then knocked on it again
The door swung slowly open
A stranger filled the frame
They stood and looked at one another
Before a word was said
Chorus
I’ll take the night train
East into the rain
One father chasing answers
Till I come home again
Final Verse
The night train rolled back west again
As morning touched the sky
He watched the city fade away
Without a last goodbye
No one knew the father’s name
No clue to who he was
He gripped his Purple Heart once more
Then caught the night train home
Lyrics Michael Forty
Voice Michael Forty