“Southern Pacific” tells the story of a conductor named Mr. Jones, who, after long years of train operation, begins to lose his sight and, so, also his job. It is the first track on the second side of Young’s eleventh studio album, Re-ac-tor, released in late 1981. The album is notable to be an earl...
[Verse 1]
Down the mountainside
To the coastline
Past the angry tide
The mighty diesel whines
And the tunnel comes
And the tunnel goes
Round another bend
The giant drivers roll
[Verse 2]
I rode the Highball
I fired the Daylight
When I turned sixty-five
I couldn't see right
It was, "Mr. Jones
We've gotta let you go
It's company policy
You've got a pension though"
[Chorus]
Roll on, Southern Pacific
On your silver rail
On your silver rail
Roll on, Southern Pacific
On your silver rail
Through the moonlight
[Verse 3]
I put in my time
I put in my time
Now I'm left to roll
Down the long decline
I ain't no brake man
Ain't no conductor
But I would be though
If I was younger
[Chorus]
Roll on, Southern Pacific
On your silver rail
On your silver rail
Roll on, Southern Pacific
Roll on, on your silver rail
Southern Pacific was written by Neil Young.
Southern Pacific was produced by David Briggs & Neil Young.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse released Southern Pacific on Wed Oct 28 1981.