how long has the train been gone

waitin' for that train they said was comin'

i had faith and waited patiently

but somethin's tellin' me i'm waitin' hopelessly

for the train has come and gone on without me

i struggled day and night so i'd be ready

i tried to make things right inside of me

but i've got a feelin' i'm mistaken

that the train won't come in time to rescue me

how long has that train been gone?

why did it leave and not take me? i wanna know

how long will the pain go on?

will it last forever

will it never leave?

a friend of mine said he don't go for jesus

he don't take no stock in all that stuff

but he wanted to believe 'cause i saw him on his knees

he was cryin'

lord have mercy! lord have mercy! lord have mercy! lord have mercy! lord have mercy! lord have mercy