Way out west an Arizona cowboy tends the herd The dessert lies beneath a sky of blue Far away, in brightest day, a ghostly sound is heard The phantom of the rail comes into view Hear that lonesome whistle callin' On his lonely ear is fallin' Loud and clear, just hear that lonesome wail But it's just the ghost, the phantom of the rail Little did he know the train was wrecked in '84 After it had crossed the Great Divide Every year it tries again to make it just once more If only to the California Line Hear that lonesome whistle callin' On the barren dessert fallin' Loud and clear, just hear that lonesome wail But it's just the ghost, the phantom of the rail Clickity-clack along the track, it's boiler showin' red As on it comes along the rusty rails People that are ridin' in the cars have long been dead Lost in time along the Phantom Trail Hear that lonesome whistle callin' On the barren dessert fallin' Is it real to feel the very ground beneath him shake As on it comes, the only run it ever makes Cross here comes the phantom, as his eyes in wonder gaze His pony shys and heads in for the brush And as it comes upon him terror grips his heart, amazed Leapin' to avoid it's onward rush Hear that lonesome whistle callin' On the barren dessert fallin' Thought he saw the engineer, thought he heard him once more wail As on he went, forever bent, on stayin' on the ghost train rail