The alley dogs are barking, chickens crowing down the lane
I feel just like that rooster with his mournful low refrain
With the sun down on my shoulders just a hanging around the yard
I'll be leaving here tomorrow, gonna catch an empty car

There's a thousand constellations in that brilliant beaming sky
But the Earth is just one station on that lonesome starry line
There's a distant whistle blowing down a rusty stretch of track
And I'm just an empty coal car on that train not coming back

Well, I hate to see that evening sun go down
When it's lonesome coming down my trail
And I know this train will take me where I'm bound
But I hate to see that evening sun go down

With the sidewalks and their street lamps city has her glow
The poor boy has the moonlight walking in his shadow
But the night time can't be trusted to return the morning sun
My eyes have not adjusted to this black face I've got on

Well, I hate to see that evening sun go down
When it's lonesome coming down my trail
Well, I know this train will take me where I'm bound
Well, I hate to see that evening sun go down

Know the night time makes you lonesome for that early morning sun
For the light upon that engine reaching towards the dawn
You can spend your whole life racing down rusty railroad lines
It's the setting sun you're chasing in that dark and rolling sky

Well, I hate to see that evening sun go down
When it's lonesome coming down my trail
But I know this train will take me where I'm bound
But I hate to see that evening sun go down
Yes, I hate to see that evening sun go down