Lyrics

Orphan Trains

Words and Music by Wolff Bowden © 2007 ASCAP



A thousand ragged orphans board

a train on Saturday.

The sun is out there somewhere

though the sky is damp and gray.



Little Alfred sits with his

small cardboard suitcase,

his face pressed to the window New York

City falls away.



The Orphan trains

roll west through the rain

and no one knows these kids are coming

no one knows their names

And all the orphans sit beside their windows, cry and say

Who would ever really want to love me anyway?

Who would ever really want to love me anyway?



The Orphan trains, The Orphan trains,

The Orphan trains, The Orphan trains.



All the children line up on a

broken plywood stage.

Their faces have been washed and

their clothes are clean and straight.



A farmer fingers Emma’s teeth

just like he would a mule.

But Emma kicks him, screaming

I’m not going home with you!



The Orphan trains…



Emma is adopted

grows up laughing by a pond.

Into Texas into Kansas

the train moves Alfred along.



When they reach Nebraska

a town merchant takes him in,

sits him on his knee and says

from now on you’re my kin.



The Orphan trains…