Frisco's a full day from home, when you can afford to fly
But it might as well be to the moon, when you're as broke as I
Here I sit, with my head in my hands, and watch the trains roll by
Lord, the helping-hand mission man warned me the nights here got cold

When you're cold, there's nothing as welcome as sunshine
When you're dry, there's nothing as welcome as rain
When you're alone, there's nothing much slower than passing time
When you're afoot, there's nothing as fast as a train

Yes, Frisco's a mighty rich town and that ain't a lie
Why, they've got some buildings that reach a mile into the sky
Yet no-one can even afford the time just to tell me - why
Is this world full of people, and so many people alone?

When you're alone, you ain't got much reason for livin'
But while you're alive, you just got to live with your pain
Unless you've been alone for so long, there's no-one left for giving
And you find yourself searching your past, for the links to the chain