My Old Pals

John and Lucky saw me off
The whistle called the times
Just six days out to the coast
And just six days behind
But I've seen every state since then
And where my boys have gone
Is known to God and four strong winds
And I'm here all alone

Now ten long years have somehow passed
Since I've seen my hometown
And times I've spent upon those streets
And faint familiar sounds
Still whisper gently in my ear
And play upon my eyes
And I'll hold on to my memories
'Til one by one they die

But I still belong to everyone
And if my sleep allows
Then I'll be running wild tonight
With all of my old pals

I can hear your passing trains
And wonder what they see
And somewhere out my window
Are the places I might be

Now I'm chasing down those pretty boys
They wander through my mind
Oh, maybe they'll remember me
When I work out my time

But I still belong to everyone
And if my sleep allows
Then all those boys will dance tonight
With me and my old pals

But I'm running every single night
And every single day
Lord, I've tried everything I know
To somehow find my way

Back to that one place in time
That fond memory endows
To me and my old pals