The Train from Washington

The Train from Washington - Gil Scott-Heron

During reconstruction time they were folks

Who have been promised 40 acres and a mule

And they were told a man with their legal papers

Could be expected on a train from Washington

They were folks who waited for him

And there are folks still waiting for him

To can't depend on the train from Washington

It's 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 surely bring you the blues

But don't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

I see people dragging on their own

See them standing

Anxious near the tracks

I see people a long long way from home

Wondering 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

It's one hundred years overdue

I see people on their way to work

I see factories bursting at the seams

I see people listening 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 listening for the whistle

On the train that will carry their dreams

You can depend on the folks and gravity

'Cuz both of them will bring you down

You can depend on catching something yeah

Something is going around

You can depend on the first two numbers but

Damn if the last one come through

But don't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

Oh lord you see

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

Don't you over

But don't depend on the train from Washington

Eh eh eh

Eh you know it might not make it

You can't depend on the train from Washington

Everybody knows it's it's running

It's running late

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years

It's long long time

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

Say hi

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

You can't depend on the train from Washington

It's one hundred years overdue

You can't depend on the train from Washington