[Verse 1]
Thirty-five minutes into Monday
I'm crossing that old state line
Headed out East with the railway
To the mountains of North Caroline

[Verse 2]
It's another damn week on the railroad
It's another damn lonesome night
One of these days, I'ma head home
One of these days I might

[Chorus]
Pay a little more respect to the body that I'm in
Take a little less off of the edge
What did you expect of an adolescent kid
Who was all out of allegiance to pledge?
What did you expect of a runaway train
On a busted up mainline rail?
What did you think he would have to say
If he decided there's a story to tell?

[Verse 3]
There's thirty-five reasons for the bottle now
I'm thirty fucking counties away
Slipping off deep to the nothingness
Couldn't even speak if I had something to say
[Verse 4]
These thoughts, they're all self-critical
There's two pounds left of the trigger pull
This ain't it, there's got to be something else
Get out now before I lose myself

[Chorus]
And pay a little more respect to the body that I'm in
Take a little less off of the edge
What did you expect of an adolescent kid
Who was all out of allegiance to pledge?
What did you expect of a runaway train
On a busted up mainline rail?
What did you think he would have to say
If he decided there's a story to tell?

[Outro]
Thirty-five minutes into Monday
I'm crossing that old state line
Headed out East with the railway
Mountains of North Caroline