I've been riding on this train 
Drinking whiskey for my pain 
Another good ol' boy headed home 

And every town I see 
Wants to take a part of me 
That's the price that you pay when you roam 

Well I cry when I have to 
And I lie when I can 
But I die a little slower 
On the train to Birmingham 

I walked holes in both my shoes 
Got a guitar full of blues 
And a one way ticket for my remedy 

It's the same ol' lonesome song 
I've been singing all night long 
Hey, porter, are we out of Tennessee 

Well I cry when I have to 
And I lie when I can 
But I die a little slower 
On the train to Birmingham 

Well every year I take this train 
To Alabama in the rain 
When I get that lonesome feelin' in my bones
 
I never get to Birmingham 
But gettin' there ain't the plan 
I just like the feel of going home 

Well I cry when I have to 
And I lie when I can 
But I die a little slower 
On the train to Birmingham 
On the train to Birmingham