El's Hells - The Ballad of Phantom 628 (original album cut)

A Train Song. A Ghost Train Song. About Existential Dilemmas.

Lyrics by Shannon Dunmyer
Music by Udio
Produced and mixed by Alan Smithee at Miskatonic Studios, Montserrat BVI

Lyrics:
Though born too late to ride the steel beasts
shrieking and bleeding steam
His heart still thrummed with piston grease
filling his every dream

While tracing the grand old Chili Line
long dead since forty-one
In a pasture the old railway's spine
waited in mountain sun

The rhythm of the wheels is my circle of fifths
The whistle's note sings my story, my myth
The song of my soul is this country's hymn
Phantom six two eight, southbound as day grows dim

His time, he felt, was nothing like
the way it should have been
Stuck in his tire an old rail spike
brought out a wistful grin

He grabbed the wrought iron firm in his fist
felt the warmth of ages
Back of his mind an unspoken wish
turn back the years like pages

With falling night and tire set right
an owl's call caught his ear
From a juniper in the fading light
it echoed pure and clear

With each hoot came a distant wail
a whistle long departed
From far off north it pierced time's veil
and called to the broken-hearted

The rhythm of the wheels is my circle of fifths
The whistle's note sings my story, my myth
The song of my soul is this country's hymn
Phantom six two eight, southbound as day grows dim

The train appeared through shadows dark
an apparition grand
The engineer, a figure stark
beckoned with friendly hand

No fear, no doubt, just pure and clear
he stepped toward his dream
"It's lucky a guy like you appeared
Come ride and tend the steam"

They passed by homes with ristras strung
and windows warm with light
In every town the songs they sung
like memories in the night

No words were needed, side by side
the engine spoke its code
Each puff of smoke, each turn, each stride
unburdened every load

When finally, the train did halt
beside his waiting car
The engineer, with wisdom salt
spoke words to heal each scar

And though the message may seem blunt
it's in his mind, enshrined
"Always keep what drives you up front
and baggage safe behind"

As Phantom six two eight pulled away
its whistle soft, yet clear
He hummed a new tune, a guiding ray
etched in his heart, sincere

The rhythm of the wheels is my circle of fifths
The whistle's note sings my story, my myth
The song of my soul is this country's hymn
Phantom six two eight, southbound as day grows dim


Copyright Shannon Dunmyer 2024. Non-commercial use is freely granted with simple attribution. For commercial use, contact me at [email protected] for reasonable terms.