She was beautiful as Southern skies 
The night he met her 
She was married to someone 
He was doggedly determined that he would get her 
He was old, he was young 
From time to time he'd tip his heart 
But each time she withdrew 

Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance 
Everybody thinks it's true 
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance 
Everybody thinks it's true 

Well eventually the boy and the girl get married 
Sure enough they have a son 
And though they both were occupied with the child she carried 
Disagreements had begun 
And in a while they fell apart 
It wasn't hard to do 

Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance 
Everybody thinks it's true 
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance 
Everybody thinks it's true 

Two disappointed believers 
Two people playing the game 
Negotiations and love songs 
Are often mistaken for one and the same 

Now the man and the woman remain in contact 
Let us say it's for the child 
With disagreements about the meaning 
Of a marriage contract 
Conversations hard and wild 
But from time to time 
He makes her laugh 
She cooks a meal or two 

Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance 
Everybody thinks it's true 
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance 
Everybody thinks it's true 

What is the point of this story 
What information pertains 
The thought that life could be better 
Is woven indelibly 
Into our hearts 
And our brains 
Like a train in the distance