Lyrics Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron

The Train From Washington

During reconstruction time they were folks who have been promised 40 acres and a mule.

And they were told a man with their legal papers could be expected on a train from Washington.

They were folks who waited for him and there are folks still waiting for him.

But you can't depend on the train from Washington, it's 100 years overdue…

You can depend on the stars and planets yeah

They'll always tell you the truth

You can depend on the 15th of April Yeah

Somehow it always gets through

You can depend on the daily paper's calls

They surely bring you the blues

But don't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

R:

I see people, dragging on their own

I see them standing

Anxious near the tracks

I see people, a long long way from home

Wondering how they'll ever get back

You can depend on the politicians yeah

Always got a point of view

They are contemporary court magicians yeah

Sleight of mouth will dazzle you

You can depend on the repositions from them

Changes that you've got to go through

But don't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

R: (x2)

You can depend on the folks and gravity

Cuz both of them will bring you down

You can depend on catching something Yeah

Cause something is going around

You can depend on the first two numbers, but

Damn if the last one come through

But don't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

Oh lord you see

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

Don't you over

But don't depend on the train from Washington

Eh eh eh .. eh you know it might not make it

You can't depend on the train from Washington

Everybody knows it's it's it's running late

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

It's long long time

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue …