Lyrics
Calabasas County is a long way from the place
Where he bled and sweat and bent the steel ‘till his bones did ache
With a gold piece in his pocket he’s ridin’ with the freight
On the Southern Pacific to the Golden State
On that freedom train, He’ll ride the freedom train
Aboard the freedom train ‘till he’s home
Freedom train, He’ll ride that freedom train
Aboard the freedom train ‘till he’s home
Not a free man, he’s a debtor those Yankees can exploit
Part of the great migration to the city of Detroit
Where they used him like a pack mule, never learned to read or write
Twelve years to buy his freedom and he’s headin’ out tonight
On that freedom train, He’ll ride the freedom train
Aboard the freedom train ‘till he’s home
Freedom train, He’ll ride that freedom train
Aboard the freedom train ‘till he’s home
He heard in California, the sun warms your bones
And a colored man can live off the land and just be left alone
Oh, Calabasas County is a long way from the place
Where he bled and sweat and bent the steel till his bones did ache
On that freedom train, He’ll ride that freedom train
Aboard the freedom train ‘till he’s home
Freedom train, he’ll ride that freedom train
On that freedom train, ‘till he’s home