Empire State

I went down to the station
I leaned up against the door.

I went down to the station
and leaned up against the door.

I know that Empire State
anytime I hear it blow.

Well, I asked the depot agent,
‘Let me ride the blinds?’

I asked the depot agent,
please let me ride the blinds.

He say, “I wouldn’t mind it, son…”
“But this Empire State ain’t mine.”

He say that Empire State
runs on Eastern
runs on Eastern
Eastern Time.

The Empire State, she runs on Eastern Time.
She’s the rollinest baby
on the New York Central Line.

Well, it was a mean ol’ Fireman
cruel engine
cruel engine
Engineer.

It was a mean ol’ Fireman
and a cruel ol’ Engineer.
They took my woman away
and left po’ me standing here.

Yes, the Engineer blowed the whistle
Fireman rung
Fireman rung
Rung the bell.

The Engineer blowed the whistle.
The Fireman rung the bell.
My woman’s on board.
She’s waving back, “Fare you well…”

Well, I’m gon’ tell y’all
what a low-down train
low-down train
will do.

I’m gonna tell ya
what a low down train will do…

It’ll take your woman away
and chuck back smoke at you.

You wanna get over to Chicago?
You wanna get over
You wanna get over
get over quick

You wanna go to Chicago
You better get over quick.

Catch that Empire State
and you soon get your business fixed.

[click to view introduction]