Ridin’ the Rails to Hitchins

Verse 1

Steam and steel before the dawn

Joe Isaac, sack in hand, moves on

Tracks stretch long, the call is clear

Hot Kentucky summer, sweat behind his ear

Steps down the line, boots worn thin

Sometimes just one word—begin

Hills that hold the sunrise in their arms

A single breath, cool and calm

Chorus

He’s ridin’ the rails, ridin’ through sorrow

Hard work and hope ‘til tomorrow

Hitchins depot, Lucy waits by the door

Home in the hills, that’s what he’s working for

Post-Chorus

Home in the hills

Home in the hills

Verse 2

Winters wild, winds cut sharp as knives

Snow drift high, he’s still alive

Dragging feet through white, frozen stone

A cook in a car, dreamin’ of home

Sky turns red, sun’s settin’ low

Lucy in the garden rows

Jar after jar, beans and pride stored tight

Putting up food for the long, lean nights

Chorus

He’s ridin’ the rails, ridin’ through sorrow

Hard work and hope ‘til tomorrow

Hitchins depot, Lucy waits by the door

Home in the hills, that’s what he’s working for

Post-Chorus

Home in the hills

Home in the hills

Bridge

Never easy, but love holds strong

Blue shadows settle ‘fore long

Holler river’s song, cold stone and clay

Still laughing, still living, at the end of the day

Verse 3

Anaphora beat in the Ironheart engine, roaring by

Anaphora heart in the holler, with Lucy’s pie

Coal smoke shivers on summer air

Joe takes the walk because he cares

No riches, no promise, just peace on the porch

Lucy and laughter, fireflies, torch

Backwood nights, bluegrass tunes

Family whole, beneath Kentucky’s moon

Chorus

He’s ridin’ the rails, ridin’ through sorrow

Hard work and hope ‘til tomorrow

Hitchins depot, Lucy waits by the door

Home in the hills, that’s what he’s working for

Post-Chorus

Home in the hills

Home in the hills