Mama said, "Stay away from the train yard children
Don't be playin' on in the tracks
Those old big devils can sneak up on ya
And run you down just like that", hey, hey

Well, little brother Jonah didn't heed her warnin'
Tried to chase a fast one down
I can still hear the words my mama was cryin'
As we laid him in the ground, yeah, yeah, hey, yeah

She said, "Why does somebody always have to die?
Before people listen and open up their eyes
There ain't no need for hurtin' or the bloody tears we cry
So why does somebody always have to die?"

Mr White collar in an uptown high rise
Finishin' a twelve hour day
A double tall glass of tequila sunrise
Takes a little stress away, hey, yeah, hey, yeah

Well, he came around the corner doing 87
Swerving all over the place
He sent a five year old straight to Heaven
And never even touched his brakes, hey, yeah, hey, yeah

Why does somebody always have to die?
Before people listen and open up their eyes
There ain't no need for hurtin' or the bloody tears we cry
So why does somebody always have to die?

There once was a carpenter living in Nazareth
Said He was the Son of God
Said He came here to free the captive
And bring faith to the lost, yeah, yeah, hey, yeah

Well, He tried to tell him all about life eternal
But they just wouldn't believe
And He said, "Father, won't you please forgive them?"
As they nailed Him to the tree, hey, yeah, hey, yeah

Why does somebody always have to die?
Before people listen and open up their eyes
There ain't no need for hurtin' or the bloody tears we cry
So why does somebody, yeah why does somebody always have to die?
Always have to die

Mama said, "Stay away from the train yard children
Don't be playin' on in the tracks
Those old big devils can sneak up on ya
And run you down just like that"