Yonder comes that Four-Twenty Special
Fastest train on the line
And when you hear that whistle a' blowin'
You will know she's right on time.

One night while a poolin' down through Dixie
The fireman said "look ahead"
And the sight they saw made the blood run cold
North bound freighter straight ahead

I've worked on this railroad most of my life
And I guess I'll work 'til I die
But I've never seen a train like the Four-Twenty Special
Her lonesome whistle made me want to cry