Well I'm longing to ride on a freight train   Put a slouch hat down low on the ears   I'm yearning to leave this old town on the flight   And loose all my troubles and cares      In this day of airplanes and highways   Hey the slow way is sometimes the best   I'm longing to ride on a freight train   And be a good old American guest      Yes, I wanna live on the land that   I've loved and I've labored for and spend a few days headed west   I'm longing to ride on a freight train   And be a good old American guest      Well, the pressures of life they got to me   And they got down deep in my soul   I'm tired of the rat-race wanna go back to the slow pace   And hear a fast train rattle and roll      I wanna live out my days like a hobo   And take myself that long-needed rest   Hey, hey I'm longing to ride on a freight train   And be a good old American guest      Yeah, I wanna live on the land that   I've loved and I've labored for and spend a few days headed west   I'm longing to ride on a freight train   And be a good old American guest   Oh, yes I'm longing to ride on a freight train   And be a good old American guest, oh yeah