A Train Robbery — Levon Helm
Chords and lyrics for A Train Robbery by Levon Helm (key of G).
Verse 1
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'A Train Robbery'
by Levon Helm
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Intro: G
[G]The foreman touched the [C]cold steel [G]lines
[G]The rail bed was [D]frozen with [G]ice
[G]In the distance an engine was [C]keeping good [G]time
[G]The steam whistle [D]moaned just [G]twice
[C]Down in the cut past the old [G]Tressel bridge
[C]Twelve fine horses [D]stood
[G]Masked men shivered in the [C]cold on the [G]ridge
[G]Not far from the [D]Glendale [G]woods
[G]The brass lamp shone from the [C]swaying [G]train
[G]When the driver [D]saw the red [G]light
[G]Her iron brakes sparked like [C]silver [G]rain
[G]And the metals [D]screamed through the [G]night
[C]The baggage man peered out to [G]look for the fault
[C]When fear froze up his [D]heart
[G]He was staring down the barrel of an [C]army [G]colt
[G]That threatened to [D]tear him [G]apart
[G]We will burn your train to cinders
[C]so throw the money on [G]down
[G]Open up your damned express car
[C]And jump down to the [G]ground
[G]But we won't touch that old Pullman
[C]She's Southern and they [G]claimed
[G]They ain't offered no reward
[C]For Frank and Jesse [G]James
[C]Frank and Jesse [G]James
[G]In long soldier's coats [C]frayed with the [G]years
[G]Quickly they [D]scrambled [G]aboard
[G]Men were the sweatin' and the [C]women shed [G]tears
[G]And a preacher [D]prayed to the [G]Lord
[C]When they opened the safe there was [G]nothing for them
[C]So they strode down through the [D]train
[G]What a miserable sight these [C]desperate [G]men
[G]Robbin' old folks for their [D]gold, watch, [G]chains
[G]We will burn your train to cinders
[C]so throw the money on [G]down
[G]Open up your damned express car
[C]And jump down to the [G]ground
[G]But we won't touch that old Pullman
[C]She's Southern and they [G]claimed
[G]They ain't offered no reward
[C]For Frank and Jesse [G]James
[C]Frank and Jesse [G]James
[C]Now some say the devil had taken his [G]soul
[C]Some say his spirit [D]survived
[G]But we all know he was nothin' but a [C]Missouri farm [G]boy
[G]Just fighting to [D]stay [G]alive
[C]High above that [G]railroad bed
[C]On a ridge where the pines grow [D]tall
[G]If you listen to the wind, there's a [C]ghost of a [G]chance
[G]You can still hear [D]old Jesse [G]call
[G]We will burn your train to cinders
[C]so throw the money on [G]down
[G]Open up your damned express car
[C]And jump down to the [G]ground
[G]But we won't touch that old Pullman
[C]She's Southern and they [G]claimed
[G]They ain't offered no reward
[C]For Frank and Jesse [G]James
[C]Frank and Jesse [G]James
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