Desperados Waiting for a Train
Guy Clark
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I played the Red River Valley He'd sit in the kitchen and cry Run his fingers through seventy years of livin' And wonder, "Lord, why has every well I've drilled gone dry?" We were friends, me and this old man We's like desperados waitin' for a train Desperados waitin' for a train He's a drifter, a driller of oil wells He's an old school man of the world He taught me how to drive his car when he was too drunk to And he'd wink and give me money for the girls And our lives was like, some old Western movie Like desperados waitin' for a train Like desperados waitin' for a train From the time that I could walk he'd take me with him To a bar called the Green Frog Cafe There was old men with beer guts and dominoes Lying 'bout their lives while they played I was just a kid, they all called me "Sidekick" Just like desperados waitin' for a train Like desperados waitin' for a train One day I looked up and he's pushin' eighty He's got brown tobacco stains all down his chin Well to me he was a hero of this country So why's he all dressed up like them old men Drinkin' beer and playin' Moon and Forty-two Jus' like desperados waitin' for a train Like a desperado waitin' for a train The day 'fore he died I went to see him I was grown and he was almost gone. So we just closed our eyes and dreamed us up a kitchen And sang one more verse to that old song Come on, Jack, that son-of-a-bitch is comin' We're desperados waitin' for a train Was like desperados waitin' for a train.
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10 facts about this song
Song Origin"Desperados Waiting for a Train" was written by Guy Clark. This song remains one of his most popular and most covered songs.
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Multiple ArtistsAlthough the song is most closely associated with Clark, it's been covered by numerous artists, including David Allan Coe, Jerry Jeff Walker, Nanci Griffith, and The Highwaymen.
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Release YearClark's version was released in 1975 as part of his debut album "Old No. 1.”
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Emotive ContentThe song loosely tells the story of Clark's relationship with his grandmother's boyfriend, who was like a grandfather to him. It's about aging, the passage of time, and the bond formed between a young boy and an old man.
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Nanci Griffith's VersionCountry and folk singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith covered the song on her 1993 album "Other Voices, Other Rooms." It was a tribute album to the songwriters who influenced her.
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The Highwaymen"Desperados Waiting for a Train" was also covered by The Highwaymen, a country music supergroup composed of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.
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Multiple AcclaimsRolling Stone magazine named "Desperados Waiting for a Train" one of the 100 greatest country songs of all time in 2014.
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David Allan Coe's CoverDavid Allan Coe, a country singer with outlaw image, covered this song on his 1981 album "Hello in There."
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Personal TouchJerry Jeff Walker, known for his own songwriting prowess, brought a unique interpretation to the song on his 1976 live album, "A Man Must Carry On."
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Emotional RespondThe thoughtful and evocative lyrics of the song have resonated with many listeners and artists alike, making it a beloved classic in the country and folk genre.
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Citation
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"Desperados Waiting for a Train Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33015086/Guy+Clark/Desperados+Waiting+for+a+Train>.
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