During reconstruction time
they were folks who have been promised
40 acres and a mule
And they were told a man
with their legal papers
could be expected on a train from Washington
They were folks who waited for him
and there are folks
who are still waiting for him
But you can't depend on the train from Washington
it's 100 years overdue

(Verse 1)
You can depend on the stars and planets, yeah
They'll always tell you the truth
You can depend on the 15th of April, yeah
Somehow it always gets through
You can depend on the daily papers, cause
They surely bring you the blues
But don't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue

I see people, dragging on their own
I see them standing, anxious near the tracks
I see people, a long long way from home
Wondering how they'll ever get back

You can depend on the politicians yeah
Always got a point of view
They are contemporary court magicians yeah
Sleight of mouth will dazzle you
You can depend on the repositions from them
Changes that you've got to go through
But don't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue

I see people, on their way to work
I see factories bursting at the seams
I see people listening for the whistle
On the train that will carry their dreams

I see people, on their way to work
I see factories bursting at the seams
I see people listening for the whistle
On the train that will carry their dreams

You can depend on the folks and gravity
Cuz both of them will bring you down
You can depend on catching something Yeah
Cuz something is going around
You can depend on the first two numbers, but
Damn if the last one comes through
But don't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue

You can't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue
Oh lord you see
You can't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue
Don't you over
But don't depend on the train from Washington
Eh eh eh... eh, you know it might not make it
You can't depend on the train from Washington
Everybody knows it's it's it's running late
You can't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue
It's long long time
You can't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue