Thereabouts I came across another empty hand
Another tin cup shaken by some raggedy old man
Acting blind and keeping time with his thin white cane
He said that Jesus Christ and Judas rode the Desperation Train

I've been torn down and rebuilt again
Felt the cold fire of madness as it ran through my veins
Signals from the green flag
Steam rising in the front cab
I believe we'd left it all behind

On the Desperation Train, they came
All the king's horses and all the king's men
For all those who ride won't be denied
For we all have rode the Desperation Train

Into view the ice truck flew with a smiling man aboard
All pink cheeks and flashing teeth in a bright white unifo
take the strain
But Charlie Chaplin and Lou Costello rode the Desperation Train

And I've played hard and waited in vain
Seen the red sun of sadness slowly sinking in my brain
I've been driving in the long spikes
Laying rails in the cold night
I believe we'd left it all behind

On the Desperation Train, they came
All the king's horses and all the king's men
For all those who feel fate turns the wheel
Of the last car home on the Desperation Train

We've all been there, been born too late
From Joan of Arc to Norma Rae

Men without shame, we came
The last on this line and freed from our chains
For all those who chose the road leading home
We'll never put them back together again

For all those who ride, they won't be denied
For we all have rode the Desperation Tra