from Soho down to Arkansas
Every stop along the way,
they promised him a rubber ball.
The train he rode, it had no plan,
no families waiting on the way.
and tried to give the child away.
I can't imagine what was told,
my little grandpa on that train.
Was he lost in someone's lies,
or was he hiding all that pain?
Eddie rode the orphan train
from Soho down to Arkansas.
Every stop along the way,
they made him stand against the wall.
a lonely boy works like a man.
They trained him well to earn his keep,
a child of God should work the land.
Eddie worked as the only son,
right up to his parting age
When the farm took on some men,
well, Eddie never drew a wage
Eddie rode the orphan train
from Soho town to Arkansas
And every stop along the way,
they promised him a rubber ball
As he's fixed to leave that home,
an unexpected child was born
A baby boy with ice blue eyes
The family aged, the children grew,
the foster parents' time didn't wane
Then when they read out the will,
there was no Eddie Orphan Train
Eddie rode the orphan train
from Soho town to Arkansas
Every stop along the way,
he lay down in a bed of straw.
deep inside an orphan child.
But Eddie somehow raised his kids
the papers hardly gave his name
Except to say he was survived
by a family and an orphan train
Eddie rode the orphan train
from Soho down New Arkansas
And he lived a long life,
the only rule was God's law
Well, my baby's name is Ed
Like his great -grandpa, he rides trains
An d on you rides the Iron Ghost
By day he eases someone's pain
An d all along this blessed land
Of sometimes life and liberty
Just beneath our emerald soil
Lies old child's trains and misery
Eddie rode the Orphan Train
from SoHo down New Arkansas
they promised him a rubber ball
Eddie rode the Orphan Train
from SoHo down New Arkansas
And he led them not on by
The only rule was God's law
And he rode the orphan's train
And he rode the orphan's train
And he rode the orphan's train
