1st Place | “Engineer”

March/April 2009 Lyric Contest
“Engineer”
Written by Chris Baker
HOUSTON, TEXAS

Videos by American Songwriter

I knew where this train was rolling
The tracks, they were in a song
I boarded her back in New Orleans
And now I look out as we roll along

The towns passing by look familiar
The air that I breathe tastes the same
I gave all I had just to be here
To ride one more time on the train

And I’ll ride this one out like I’ve done before
For this is who I choose to be
I’ll take the pain that’s pulled by the train
Until the engineer slows down for me

I first rode the train as a young boy
Like both of my brothers before
I’d lay there and look out of my window
And dream that it ran by my door

But years can be hard on a dreamer
You forget about what you enjoy
So now as a man I take what I can
From the lessons I learned as a boy

And I’ll ride this one out like I’ve done before
For this is who I choose to be
I’ll take the pain that’s pulled by the train
Until the engineer slows down for me


5 Comments

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  1. You’ve got to be kidding! This is just an “okay” song that sounds all too familiar. Is this the BEST American Songwriter can do in choosing a #1 winner? I wonder…do the judges actually read every single submission? Congrats anyhow.

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2nd Place | “Even More”