Downbound train      (Listen to midi)    (Listen to sample)

 

    Em  - G - D (2x)

 

                Em               G                             

1. I had a job, I had a girl,

                                 D

    I had something going, mister, in this world.

                  Em                        G                            

    I got laid off at the lumber yard,

                            D

    our love went bad, times got hard.

                 C                        D                                

    Now I work down at the carwash,

                                           Em

    where all it ever does is rain,

                      C                       D              

    don't you feel like you're a rider

            Em                D

    on a downbound train ?

 

                           Em              G                 

2. She just said, Joe, I gotta go,

                     D

    we had it once, we ain't got it any more.

                               Em                    G                      

    She packed her bags left me behind,

                           D

    she bought a ticket on the Central Line

                         C                                      D              

    Nights as I sleep, I hear that whistle whining,

                                              Em

    I feel her kiss in the misty rain,

               C                  D              Em               D

    and I feel like I'm a rider on a downbound train.

 

    + instrumental = last three lines of verse 2

 

           Em                          G                                  

3. Last night I heard your voice,

                                  D

    you were crying, crying, you were so alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                            Em                     G                     

    You said, your love had never died,

                      D

    you were waiting for me at home.

                     Em                                    G                          

    Put on my jacket, I ran through the woods,

                       D

    I ran till I thought my chest would explode.

                           Em                           G                   

     There in the clearing, beyond the highway,

                 D

    in the moonlight, our wedding house shone.

                                     Em                                    G             

    I rushed through the yard, I burst through the front door,

                                    D

    my head pounding hard, up the stairs I climbed.

                            Em                         G                   

    The room was dark, our bed was empty,

                 D

    then I heard that long whistle whine.

                 C                                                                G   - -

     And I dropped to my knees, hung my head and cried.

 

                             Em                                          D

3. Now I swing a sledge hammer on a railroad gang,

                                                                              Em

    knocking down them cross ties, working in the rain,

                         C                       D             Em                 D

    now don't it feel like you're a rider on a downbound train.

 

    Em - G - D (4x) ….        (capo 3rd)         (Bruce Springsteen)