train Whistle*

The screen door slammed as her Pa chased his daughter out of a shack
She ran fast because she knew there was no going back
Over the fence and through the fields straight towards the cargo snake
She couldn’t escape what she saw, Ma’s blood peppered her face

And she heard that Kansas City Southern train whistle
Train whistle
Train whistle

Breathless sick she rifled her pockets, just a hook and fishing line
It glittered behind her three fields back like a cube of melting ice
She threw herself at the steely veins before her Pa could cut her down
And the coal eating beast hit the brakes 20 miles south of town

And she made that crude and lumber loaded train whistle
Train whistle
Train whistle

Flies gathered, a screen door yawned and gravel was spit to the road
The family portrait in Ma’s old locket was lost in the stubble rows
Crickets sawed their tiny violins as the sun slipped in the sky
Nothing’s wrong and nothing’s right, things are meant to come untied

And from death row her Pa still hears that train whistle
Train whistle
Train whistle

Train whistle

*co-written with Kristal Sieh

© 2018 Plaid Rain Music (BMI)