Daddy's been a railroad man since he was twenty-one Two yers of Britty ship, a brakeman on the Denver run Thirty he made fireman, thirty-five an engineer Now at sixty-five he's reached the end of his career Daddy said he's glad it's over but he ain't foolin' me Last night I overheard him singing this sad old melody So long, train whistle so long This near generation has no need for you or I We both served the nation long before it learned to fly Nothing last forever now it's our turn to die Lord hear that whistle cry Daddy's not the only one the railroad lines are fired And New York Central Limited is long since been retired The Chief is gone from Santa Fe, the SP Lark as well I'm soon to rest to leave the rails, lord only time will tell I know that you can't stop progress, new things happen every day We gonna mourn that lonely whistle when it finally fades away So long, train whistle so long This near generation has no need for you or I We both served the nation long before it learned to fly Nothing last forever now it's our turn to die Lord hear that whistle cry Hear that whistle cry