From the recording Sins and Promises
Choice City-
Slim is reeling from the recent death of his father and their failing farm. He has a choice to make. He could stay, making a meager living, or he could join the throngs of people heading west to follow promises of new beginnings, fortune, and excitement. He chooses the latter and boards a train called The Choice City Queen.
Lyrics
Choice City
The news has whispered throughout the wheat
That small time farmers can’t compete
Anymore, we gotta go
Back when tickets got punched on time
The pristine promise of wealth to find
On down the line, and in them mines
There is wealth to find,.... on down the line
This old engine of steam and dreams
From worn out porters to men of means,
they’re all the same
Fat cats with their silver spoons,
Those rowdy rounders in saloons
There is money to spare
Dirty money everywhere
Hold your head up ten feet high
Before it hits the ground
Slowly churnin’ I’m on my own
But I’m Choice City Bound
The Choice City Queen’s been a chuggin’
Long before you were around
Head full of steam
Careening down it seems
The engine will pull as the car still follows
If you ride fast enough you’ll escape tomorrow
Whistle don’t blow while carrying the cargo
The only thing left is time to borrow
There’ll be no stopping me
And the whistle goes…
From a boomin city to a one horse town
That grew up too quick to stick around
I lived it all
Worn tracks of steel, worn tracks are straight
This passenger don’t have to wait, too long
The promise of Choice City
It can be found
Hold your head up ten feet high
Before it hits the ground
Slowly churnin’ I’m on my own
But I’m Choice City Bound
The Choice City Queen’s been a chuggin’
Long before you were around