Empire State Expres Songtext
von Son House

I went down to the station
I said I leaned up against the door
I went down to the station
I leaned up against the door
You know I know the Empire State
Any time I hear her blow

Then I ask the depot agent
Let me ride, let me ride the blind
I said I asked the depot agent
I said let me ride the blinds
He said you ain′t going anywhere now, son
You know you got to, to lay your money down

I asked the depot agent
What time, what time
She's due in town
I asked the depot agent
And said what time is she due in town
San Antonio?
You got to lay your money down


He said on the Empire State
She runs on the Eastern
She runs on the Eastern
Eastern Time
He said, Empire State
You know she′s usually on Eastern time
You know she's about to row this baby
On New York central line

Ask the engineer
I blow the whistle, old farmer rung
Rung the bell
I said the engineers blow the whistle
I said the farmer only rung the bell
You know my woman was on board
And she's waving back fare you well

There was a mean old farmer
A cruel engineer, engineer
I said there was a mean old farmer
I said a cruel old engineer
You know they took my woman away
And left poor me slamming her

Yeah, I must tell you people
What a load on train
Train was due, oh
I said what a load on train
You know they′ll take your woman away
Into the trunk, like smokey due


When you want to get to Chicago
You want to get to
You want to get to
Get on there quick
I said if you want to get to Chicago
I said you wanna get on there quick

You oughta catch that Empire State
You′ll soon get your penitence straight