The old man told about it The Blue Ridge Special train Ain't no way I can doubt it I can hear him say its name; Waiting outside on a foggy day Mist was choking the tracks Been hit with another delay Some men had shouldered their packs; "Blue Ridge Special ain't ever late" His old voice crackled out "Don't need to remember the time or date Just wait for the horn to shout! "Only comes once when you need it Can never come too soon Some say they've never seen it Comes once in a blue moon; "Will take any ticket that you've got So long's you've paid the fare I picked it up at this very spot But I want you boys to beware; "It'll take you as far as Washington You can get off at Baltimore Philadelphia's another one It goes as far as the shore; "But if you keep riding into the night They say it goes back West Train's always empty by daylight As to why, you can guess; "It never stops, it needs no gas No diesel, water or coal No third rail, no pantograph That train is a living soul; "One of these days I'll ride it out At the last station I'll get off Where the Blue Ridge mountains open out To a valley that's all but lost." I wait today in the pouring rain But the old man's no more about I guess he finally caught that train And had the pluck to ride it out.