From the recording The Dealer
Lyrics
Boxcars ‘n Boneyards
by Melvin Litton & Robb Popp
He served in a squad of brave young men
Trained hard as tempered steel
They knifed right in, fell ‘n bled
Like oil from a bust wheel
Now they lay up in those boneyards
And on that great black marble wall
Behind their names you’ll see his face
Still haunted by it all…
He eased down from a boxcar, he limped along a track
All he owned was a walkin’ cane ‘n the clothes on his back
Long ‘n lean as the shadows etched in the settin’ sun
He creased his hungry eyes at me
And said, “I’m an old soldier on the run...”
We slipped into a side saloon where they played a rockin’ song
He sipped the beer I bought for him ‘n tapped his foot along
Said, “I summered up in Alaska, been a month now southern bound
“Fixin’ for to winter, boy, in a Tex-Mex border town...”
Chorus: “It’s boxcars ‘n boneyards, smoked out ol’ cigars
“Empty whiskey bottles like memories shot away
“There’s a cold wind a’blowin’ down the road I’m a’goin’
“It’s boxcars ‘n boneyards and old dog’s grave
“I got this wound in ’68 smack-dab in Vietnam
“They served a fete for us at Tete
“It was blam...blam-blam-blam!
“Not one of them Rockefellers even knew our names
“They sent us off to fight for them
“And it’s a shame, shame, shame…”
(chorus)
“Once had a peachy woman, thought I held a winning hand
“Sweet as brandy on my tongue ‘n swore I was her man
“She left me stomped down in an alley
“Like a damned ol’ stray dog
“Took up with a preacher to praise Jesus every song...”
(chorus)