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Night Train

from Strange Tales by John Plainsong

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about

I based Night Train on a 50's TV episode about a couple's insurance scam. They fake the husband's death, and he hides out for eight years until the insurance payout. Now he wants his wife to join him with the loot, but she has other plans. If I was him, I wouldn't stick around for the night train to arrive. After all, he's already been declared legally dead.

See a live video of me performing this song in the Photos/Videos page of this website, or at youtu.be/HJK7aNmDdFU

lyrics

--- Letter dated May 14:
Desiree,
Take the night train down. I miss you so. It's cold and lonely in this town. I'm tired of hiding out in cheap hotels and running place to place. Its been eight years, I don't think anyone would recognize my face.

~ Frank


--- Letter dated June 20:
Desiree,
Take the night train down. I'd come back home, but the investigator thinks I'm dead and gone. I'm happy the insurance money comes in every month. I just wish you'd come down here and maybe share it with me some.

~ Frank


--- Letter dated August 7:
Desiree,
Take the night train down. I miss you so. Its cold as bones in this ghost town. We should be lying on the beaches of Cancun just like we planned. You say there's been a change of plans but, honey, I don't understand!

~ Frank


--- Choruses

[If you don't want the fruits of sin
Stay out of the devil's garden, then.
What's that sound? is that a whistle I hear?
Talk of the devil and the devil appears!]

[Clickety-clack-clickety clack-coming...
Smokestack lightning and the wheels are humming.
Clickety-clack-clickety-clack-coming...]

credits

from Strange Tales, released January 1, 2020
Written by John Baker.
Guitars, bass, e-drums, keyboards, locomotive breath, saxes: John Baker.

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John Plainsong Battle Ground, Washington

John Plainsong is a songwriter and performer in SW Washington.

Please share this music with friends, and come to one of John's concerts if you're in the area.

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