at the station house one day was a lady old and gray i could tell her heart was feelin sad and low with a teardrop in her eye she was tryin not to cry i determined then her story i would know i ventured a word then a sad sad tale i heard of a mother who had lost her only child yes they ve taken her away these words i heard her say and they re travellin on that southern dixie flyer she was only sweet sixteen and the only joy i ve seen what god has given now he takes away she ll be taken home again on that southbound railroad train to be laid there with her daddy in the grave i ve no money of my own i can t even take her home but i want to be there with my heart s desire but then she could say no more as the echo drifted o er was the whistle of that southern dixie flyer as the train pulled out of sight and the day became as night was a scene to bring a tear to any eye just a lady all alone not a thing to call her own but some memories from a better day gone by i knew right away there was nothin i could say to soothe her heart or dry those tear dimmed eyes so i turned to walk away from the lady old and gray whose heart was on that southern dixie flyer i ve no money of my own i can t even take her home but i want to be there with my heart s desire but then she could say no more as the echo drifted o er was the whistle of that southern dixie flyer