Nebraska demo version
I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going mister in this world
I got laid off down at the auto yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the carwash
Where all it does is rain
Sometimes you feel like you're a rider, baby, on a downbound train
She just said "Joe I gotta go
We had it once we ain't got it any more"
She packed her bags left me behind
She bought a ticket on the Central Line
Nights as I sleep, I still hear the whistle whining
I feel her soft kiss in the misty morning rain
Sometimes don't you feel like you're a rider, baby, on a downbound train
Hahhhhhh
Hahhh hahhh
Last night I heard her voice
You were crying, crying, you were so alone
You said your love had never died
And you were waiting for me at home
Well I put on my jacket, I ran through the woods
I ran till I thought my chest would explode
There in the clearing, beyond the highway
In the moonlight, our wedding house shone
I rushed through the yard, I burst through the front door
And then up the stairs I climbed
The room was dark, our bed was empty
And then I heard that long whistle whine
And then I dropped to my knees, hung my head and cried
Well now I swing a sledge hammer on a railroad gang
Knocking down them cross ties, working in the rain
Sometimes don't it feel like you're a rider, baby, on a downbound train
Hahhhhhh
Hoooo hoo-hoo-hoo
Hahhh hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo
Hoooo hoo-hoo-hoo
This solo acoustic demo is a professional recording that was made at Thrill Hill recording (Springsteen's home studio) in Colts Neck, NJ, on or around 03 Jan 1982. It was included on the famous Nebraska demo tape of January 1982.
On this version, Springsteen tries a fast rockabilly style arrangement, maintaining the acoustic form, probably the last chance the song had to be on Nebraska before being put apart for future glory. See the album version for more details (it has some minor lyrics variations from this one).
List of available versions of DOWNBOUND TRAIN on this website:
DOWNBOUND TRAIN [Album version]