Magne with Townes in Norway 

Trains That Always Run

I wrote this song in tribute to some of the writers who have been
inspirations to my songwriting, making references to some of
them, including Mickey Newbury, John Stewart, Roger Miller,
Steve Goodman, Kris Kristofferson, Fred Neil, Paul Siebel,
Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark

Songs are the only trains that keep on running
Down the rusty tracks that join our lives
There's one about a Waycross, Georgia farmboy
In the end it's only love survives
There's one about a gypsy girl named Shannon
Who vanished in the California sun
I'll be your lonesome whistle at the junction
Songs are the only trains that always run

Third boxcar on the midnight train is empty
No brakeman's singing by the water tank
There's no smoke comin' from the hobo jungle
At night the couplin' joints no longer clank
The City of New Orleans isn't running
But I will sing that song until I'm done
Takin' Goodman home to sweet Chicago
Songs are the only trains that always run

I've still got Sammi singin' "Take the ribbon"
And Johnny's Sunday Morning Comin' Down
It's Kris that wrote 'em both and gave us Bobby
She's just the other side of nowhere now
Fred Neil is still out searchin' for the dolphins
Sailin' off ol' Key West in the sun
Is he with Miss McGee, shakin' Sugaree?
Songs are the only trains that always run

Siebel sent Louise home on the mail train
Townes asked the sun to walk with Caroline
Guy Clark gave us all a flattened nickel
In Guthrie it's still Bluebird Special time
For all the days that I have felt like quittin'
I sit tonight and write another one
There's always one more keeper to be written
Songs are the only trains that always run

DL