Gil Scott-Heron — The Train from Washington

[Intro] During Reconstruction time there were folks who had been promised forty acres and a mule. And they were told that 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 who are still waiting for him. But you can't depend on the train from Washington, it's one hundred years overdue.  [Verse 1] You can depend on the stars and planets, yeah They'll always tell you the truth You can depend on the fifteenth of April, yeah Somehow it always gets through You can depend on the daily papers 'Cause they sho' nuff bring you the blues But don't depend on the train from Washington It's one hundred years overdue [Chorus] I see people dragging all they own I see them standing anxious near the tracks I see people a long, long way from home Wondering how they'll ever get back [Verse 2] 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 a weak position 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 [Chorus] 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 [Sax Solo] [Chorus] 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 [Verse 3] You can depend on the folks and gravity 'Cause both of them will bring you down You can depend on catching something, yeah 'Cause something is going around You can depend on the first two numbers But damn if the last one comes through But don't depend on the train from Washington It's one hundred years overdue [Outro] 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 and that's a long long time 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 It's one hundred years overdue You can't depend on the train from Washington It's one hundred years overdue