At the station house one day Was a lady old and gray I could tell her heart was feelin' sad and low With a teardrop in her eye She was tryin' not to cry I determined then her story I would know I ventured a word Then a sad, sad tale I heard Of a mother who had lost her only child Yes they've taken her away These words I heard her say And they're travellin' on that Southern Dixie Flyer She was only sweet sixteen And the only joy I've seen What God has given now he takes away She'll be taken home again On that southbound railroad train To be laid there with her daddy in the grave I've no money of my own I can't even take her home But I want to be there with my heart's desire But then she could say no more As the echo drifted o'er Was the whistle of that Southern Dixie Flyer As the train pulled out of sight And the day became as night Was a scene to bring a tear to any eye Just a lady all alone Not a thing to call her own But some memories from a better day gone by I knew right away There was nothin' I could say To soothe her heart Or dry those tear dimmed eyes So I turned to walk away From the lady old and gray Whose heart was on that Southern Dixie Flyer I've no money of my own I can't even take her home But I want to be there with my heart's desire But then she could say no more As the echo drifted o'er Was the whistle of that Southern Dixie Flyer