© 2006 Ronald C. Kerst

When I was a little boy, my Dad, would always say,
"When you get your chores done, you can go outside, and play!"
As he left, to go to work, he'd leave a list of things to do,
He expected it to be done, by the time his day was through.

Our family wasn't small, I had two brothers, and sister's too,
and, Mom would work, to make ends meet, when the bills, came due.
Mom worked hard in factories, and came home sometimes, in tears
She was worried about Daddy, for he's putting on the years.

Dad worked on the railroad, he was always on the go
He gave me a nick-name, he called me, (Hobo-Joe).
I was beginning to understand all of Mama's tears,
The rail-road, was taking, the best of Daddy's years.

The railroad was in the family, Grandpa worked there too,
Mama's tears, through all those years, Dad did what he loved to do.
Through the blood, sweat, and tears, Dad would never complain
Our love for Dad, was like, Daddy's love for trains

Then one day, in the spring, early in the morn',
The angels came, took Dad away, a new star was born!
Now, when I hear the cadence, of a train, on the track
This reminds me of Daddy, and he's never, coming back.

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