A Train Robbery - Levon Helm

The full moon touched the cold steel lines

The rail bed was frozen with ice

In the distance an engine was keeping good time

The steam whistle moaned just twice

Down in the cut past the old trestle bridge

Twelve fine horses stood

Masked men shivered in the cold on the ridge

Not far from the Glendale woods

The brass lamp shone from the swaying train

When the driver saw the red light

Her iron brakes sparked like silver rain

And the metals screamed through the night

The baggage man peered out to look for the fault

When fear froze up his heart

He was staring down the barrel of an army colt

That threatened to tear him apart

We will burn your train to cinders

So throw the money on down

Open up your damned express car

And jump down to the ground

But we won’t touch that old Pullman

She’s Southern and they claimed

They ain’t offered no reward

For Frank and Jesse James

Frank and Jesse James

In long soldiers coats frayed with the years

Quickly they scrambled aboard

Men were the sweatin' and the women shed tears

And a preacher prayed to the Lord

When they opened the safe there was nothing for them

So they strode down through the train

What a miserable sight these desparate men

Robbin' old folks for their gold watch chains

We will burn your train to cinders

So throw the money on down

Open up your damned express car

And jump down to the ground

But we won’t touch that old Pullman

She’s Southern and they claimed

They ain’t offered no reward

For Frank and Jesse James

Frank and Jesse James

Now some say the devil had taken his soul

Some say his spirit survived

But we all know he was nothin' but a Missouri farm boy

Just fighting to stay alive

High above that railroad bed

On a ridge where the pines grow tall

If you listen to the wind, there’s a ghost of a chance

You can still hear old Jesse call

We will burn your train to cinders

So throw the money on down

Open up your damned express car

And jump down to the ground

But we won’t touch that old Pullman

She’s Southern and they claimed

They ain’t offered no reward

For Frank and Jesse James

For Frank and Jesse James