My Own Tracks
A train horn I grew up hearing
Two blocks from my home
It was an accepted part of living
With the workers to me all known
Many worked in the yard
And got the cars in line
With a red caboose put last
With brakemen there inside
My uncle was an engineer
And lived in a very nice home
The railroad was a good living
And new vehicles he owned
Some thought I’d work there too
As my grandfather and uncles did
But I moved off to college
To find a different way to live
Some friends have worked long
With decades riding trains
With good pay and benefits
And a retirement check they’ll claim
I took a different path
Along my own tracks
And my life’s been very good
With no looking back