Desperados Waiting for a Train
David Allan Coe
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I'd sing the Red River Valley And he'd sit in the kitchen and cry Run his fingers through seventy years of livin' Wonder Lord has every well I drilled ran dry We were friends me and that old man Like desperados waiting for the train Like desperados waiting for the train He's a drifter and a driller of oil wells And an old school man of the world Taught me how to drive his car when he's too drunk to And he'd wink and give me money for the girls And our lives was like some old western movie Like desperados waiting for the train like desperados waiting for the train From the time that I could walk he take me with him To a place called the Green Frog Cafe There was old men with beer guts and dominos Lyin' bout their lives while they'd play And I was just a kid that they all called his sidekick Like desperados waiting for the train Like desperados waiting for the train Now I looked up and he was pushin' eighty And there's brown tobacco stains all down his chin To me he's one of the heroes of this country So why's he all dressed up like some old men Drinking beer and playing moon and 42 Like desperados waiting for the train Like desperados waiting for the train Then just before he died I went to see him I was grown and he was almost gone We just closed our eyes and dreamed us up a kitchen And sang another verse to that old song (Don't cry Jack it's only Jesus comin') Like desperados waiting for the train Like desperados waiting for the train Like desperados waiting for the train
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10 facts about this song
Song Origin"Desperados Waiting for a Train" was written by Guy Clark. This song remains one of his most popular and most covered songs.
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Multiple ArtistsAlthough the song is most closely associated with Clark, it's been covered by numerous artists, including David Allan Coe, Jerry Jeff Walker, Nanci Griffith, and The Highwaymen.
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Release YearClark's version was released in 1975 as part of his debut album "Old No. 1.”
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Emotive ContentThe song loosely tells the story of Clark's relationship with his grandmother's boyfriend, who was like a grandfather to him. It's about aging, the passage of time, and the bond formed between a young boy and an old man.
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Nanci Griffith's VersionCountry and folk singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith covered the song on her 1993 album "Other Voices, Other Rooms." It was a tribute album to the songwriters who influenced her.
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The Highwaymen"Desperados Waiting for a Train" was also covered by The Highwaymen, a country music supergroup composed of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.
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Multiple AcclaimsRolling Stone magazine named "Desperados Waiting for a Train" one of the 100 greatest country songs of all time in 2014.
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David Allan Coe's CoverDavid Allan Coe, a country singer with outlaw image, covered this song on his 1981 album "Hello in There."
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Personal TouchJerry Jeff Walker, known for his own songwriting prowess, brought a unique interpretation to the song on his 1976 live album, "A Man Must Carry On."
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Emotional RespondThe thoughtful and evocative lyrics of the song have resonated with many listeners and artists alike, making it a beloved classic in the country and folk genre.
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Citation
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"Desperados Waiting for a Train Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1914152/David+Allan+Coe/Desperados+Waiting+for+a+Train>.
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