Mavis Staples Lyrics
"20th Century Express"

Screams cry out in the dead of night
From the crack house across the street
U're comin' down with a sudden migraine
And here it is almost 3
Next door they're fightin' again
Somebody's done somebody wrong
And some freak keeps calling up
Want a quickie on the telephone

U try and try 2 close your eyes at night
But all U do is toss and turn until broad daylight

Welcome aboard the 20th Century Express
Welcome aboard the 20th Century Express

Fast food chains keep popping up
Everybody's eatin' on the run
Hamburgers, French fries, hurry please
But hold the indigestion
The rush hour traffic slows U down
As U race against the clock
But fasten your seatbelts everyone
There are no intermediate stops

U try and try 2 keep pace with the times
U try and get one step ahead, but U fall 2 steps behind

Welcome aboard the 20th Century Express
Welcome aboard the 20th Century Express

Ou-ya on't-day un-ray o-say ast-fay, eed-spay ills-kay, i-o-k {x4}
{pig latin for "You don't run so fast, speed kills}

U try and try 2 close your eyes at night
But all U do is toss and turn until broad daylight

Welcome aboard the 20th Century Express
Welcome aboard the 20th Century Express
Welcome aboard the 20th Century Express
Welcome aboard the 20th Century Express

Running 2 the crack house
People gettin' sprung out
Welcome aboard
(Welcome, welcome aboard the 20th Century Express)

Livin' in the fast lane
2 much cocaine
Welcome aboard
(Welcome, welcome aboard the 20th Century Express)

The world keep revolvin'
And ain't nobody stoppin'
Welcome, oh yes
(Welcome, welcome aboard the 20th Century Express)

Welcome, welcome
Welcome aboard the 20th Century Express

We're livin' 2 fast, y'all
Babies makin' babies, hear?
Oh, welcome the 20th Century Express