The wild birds are flying, high, wide, and free
Whatever calls the wild birds is calling to me
The spell of the freight train caught in my blood one day
I'm always going, never get nowhere, I'm just on my way
My baby, she loves me, but she don't understand
The spell of the freight train
The spell of the freight train that's calling her name
My daddy is a preacher
My mother teaches school
My daddy is a preacher

My brother is a doctor
And me, I'm a fool
The spell of the freight train
Stronger than wine
That same lonesome whistle
That chills my darling's heart is calling mine
My baby, she loves me
But she don't understand
The spell of the freight train
That's calling her name
The spell of the freight train
That's calling her name
The spell of the freight train