Commander Mercy put his dog to sleep
He's building railroads out in his backyard
The things he does, he thinks no one can see
But the town is watching, Commander Mercy

Commander Mercy had a peg-legged wife
One day she ran off with a railway porter
Commander Mercy carved a wooden bride
And spilt his curses out upon the ocean

Commander Mercy went to church last night
With his dead dog and his wooden woman
He offered prayers that it might rain
And then he married himself to his affliction

Here he comes, there he goes, here he comes
He's building railroads in his sleep
Here he comes, there he goes, here he comes
He's building railroads in his sleep
Building railroads in his sleep
Building railroads in his sleep

A wooden bride infests his sleep