The Train From Washington Songtext
von Gil Scott‐Heron

During reconstruction time, there were folks
Who had been promised 40 acres and a mule
And they were told that a man with their legal papers
Could be expected on a train from Washington
There were folks who waited for him
And there are folks who are still waiting for him
But you can′t depend on a train from Washington
That is 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 sure not bring you the blues
But don't depend on the train from Washington
That's 100 years overdue


I see people, dragging on their own
I see them standing anxious near the tracks
I see people, a long, long way from home
Wonderin′ 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
That's 100 years overdue

I see people on their way to work
I see factories bursting at the seams
I see people listenin′ for the whistle
On the train that will carry their dreams

I see people on their way to work
I see factories bursting at the seams
I see people listenin' for the whistle
On the train that will carry their dreams


You can depend on the folks and gravity
′Cause both of them will bring you down
You can depend on catchin' somethin', yeah
′Cause somethin′ is goin' around
You can depend on the first two numbers, but
Damn, if the last one comes through
But don′t depend on the train from Washington
That's 100 years overdue

You can′t depend on the train from Washington
That's 100 years overdue, oh Lord you see
You can′t depend on the train from Washington
That's 100 years overdue, don't you over
But don′t depend on the train from Washington
Yeah-he-hey, yeah, you know it might not make it

You can′t depend on the train from Washington
Everybody knows if it's runnin′ it's runnin′ late
You can't depend on the train from Washington
That′s 100 years- and that's a long, long time
You can't depend on the train from Washington
That′s 100 years overdue, see it, huh

You can′t depend on the train from Washington
That's 100 years overdue, don′t you take me for bonanza
You can't depend on the train from Washington
That′s 100 years overdue
You can't depend on the train from Washington
That′s 100 years overdue