Way Down Hadestown Songtext
von Anaïs Mitchell

All aboard

Follow that dollar for a long way down
Far away from the poorhouse door
Either get to Hell or to Hadestown
Ain′t no difference anymore

Way down Hadestown
Way down under the ground

Hound dog howls and the whistle blows
Train come a-rollin', clickety-clack
Nobody knows where that old train goes
Those who go, they don′t come back

Way down Hadestown
Way down under the ground

Winter's nigh and summer's o′er
I hear that high and lonesome sound
Of my husband coming for
To bring me home to Hadestown

Way down Hadestown
Way down under the ground


Everybody dresses in clothes so fine
Everybody′s pockets are weighted down
Everybody's sipping ambrosia wine
In goldmine in Hadestown

Way down Hadestown
Way down under the ground

Everybody hungry, everybody tired
Everybody slaves by the sweat of his brow
The wage is nothin′ and the work is hard
It's a graveyard in Hadestown

Way down Hadestown
Way down under the ground

Every little penny on the wishing well
Every little nickel on the drum (on the drum)
All them shiny little heads and tails
Where do you think they come from? They come from

Way down Hadestown
Way down under the ground


Mr. Hades is a mean old boss
With a silver whistle and a golden scale
(An eye for an eye) and he weighs the cost
(A lie for a lie) and your soul for sale
Sold to the king on the chromium throne
Thrown to the bottom of a Sing-Sing-cell
Where the little wheel squeals and the big wheel groans
And you better forget about your wishing well

Way down Hadestown
Way down under the ground

Mr. Hades is a mighty king
Must be making some mighty big deals
Seem like he owns everything
Kind of makes you wonder how it feels

Way down Hadestown
Way down under the ground
Way down Hadestown
Way down under the ground

Way down under the ground (and shout)
Way down under the ground