i ve been riding on this train drinking whiskey for the pain just another good old boy going home and every town i see seems to take a part of me that s a price that you pay when you roam and i lie when i have to and i cry when i can but i die a little slower on the train to birmingham i got holes in both my shoes and a guitar full of blues a one way ticket for a remedy it s the same old lonesome song i ve been singing all night long hey porter are we out of tennessee and i cry when i have to and i lie when i can but i die a little slower on the train to birmingham every year i ride this train to alabama in the rain when i get that lonesome feeling in my bones but i never get to birmingham but getting there is not the plan no i just like the feel of going home and i lie when i have to and i cry when i can but i die a little slower on the train to birmingham well i die a little slower on the train to birmingham