You always said I wouldn't stay
I guess, you saw me before it all began
I've always been a changing train
And when you think I'm lost, you might forgive me then
Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James
And all the shiny suits and all the shiny names
The things a country boy can place
The look of shame upon your city face and you needed more
You picked me up on my way down
That dusty one horse town, I won't forget the jail
And there's wife and Cadillac
The sheriff on my back 'til you put up the bail
Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James
You've got a lot of grace but you're an empty place
The dawn falls hard upon my face
I move as I began through fields [unverified]
Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James
That world of grain gold that watched you growing old
The things I never saw, I see
To think that I'm still free and I'm not feeling cold