lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

TENNESSEE CENTRAL NO. 9

(Beasley Smith) « © '46 Milene Music, ASCAP »
Oh that big black engine comes a puffin' round the bend
Puffin' round the bend puffin' round the bend
Oh that big black engine comes a puffin' round the bend
It's the Tennessee Central No 9

With her smokestack blazin' she's a burnin' up the wind
Burnin' up the wind burnin' up the wind
With her smokestack blazin' she's a burnin' up the wind
It's the Tennessee Central No 9

Oh that ol' TC it's good enough for me
Let the flagman give that engineer the sign
Get a feelin' I must go when I hear that whistle blow
On the Tennessee Central No 9
[ fiddle ] All aboard good people can't you hear that bell a ringin'
Hear that bell a ringin' dongin' and a dingin'
All aboard good people can't you hear that bell a ringin'
The Tennessee Central No 9

Gonna hit that mountain just a rockin' and a reelin'
Rockin' and a reelin' moanin' and a squealin'
Gonna hit that mountain just a rockin' and a reelin'
On the Tennessee Central No 9
[ harmonica ] When she leaves the station she'll be pantin' and a blowin'
Pantin' and a blowin' gettin' and a goin'
When she leaves the station she'll be pantin' and a blowin'
It's the Tennessee Central No 9

We'll roll into Knoxville just a shoutin' and a singin'
Shoutin' and a singin' swayin' and a swingin'
We'll roll into Knoxville just a shoutin' and a singin'
On the Tennessee Central No 9
Oh that ol' TC...
**********

2.

WABASH CANNONBALL

(A.P. Carter - William Kindt) « © '46 Peer International, BMI »
From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore
From the queen of flowing mountains to the southbells by the shore
She's mighty tall and handsome and known quite well by all
She's the combination on the Wabash Cannonball

She came down from Birmingham one cold December day
As she rolled into the station you could hear all the people say
There's a girl from Tennessee she's long and she's tall
She came down from Birmingham on the Wabash Cannonball
[ dobro ] Our eastern states are dandy so the people always say
From New York to St Louis and Chicago by the way
From the hills of Minnesotta where the wrippling waters fall
No changes can be taken on the Wabash Cannonball
[ ac.guitar ] Listen to the jingle the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the woodland through the hills and by the shore
Hear the mighty rush of the engine hear that lonesome hoboes call
You're travling through the jungles on the Wabash Cannonball
**********

3.

NIGHT TRAIN TO MEMPHIS

(Beasley Smith - Marvin Hughes - Owen Bradley) « © '42 Peer International, BMI »
Take that night train to Memphis take that night train to Memphis
And when you arrive at the station
I'll be right there to meet you I'll be right there to greed you
So don't turn down my invitation

Hallelujah hallelujah we'll be shoutin' hallelujah all the day
Oh we'll have a jubilee down in Memphis Tennessee
And we'll shout hallelujah all the way
[ guitar ] Take that night train to Memphis take that night train to Memphis
You know how I'm longing to see you
Leave that 3-50-7 arive at eleven then I'll be shoutin' hallelujah

Hallelujah hallelujah...
[ fiddle ] Take that night train to Memphis take that night train to Memphis
Tell that engineer to pull a trottle open
Keep that engine stack a smoking I'm not kiddin' I'm not joking
I'll soon be with my girl I'm hoping

Hallelujah hallelujah...
**********

4.

SUNSHINE SPECIAL

(Ray Welch) « © '53 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Thank you Mr Postman for the letter you bring
It's from my little darling and she's coming back again
I'll meet her at the station this morning at nine
Sunshine Special will be right on time

Sunshine Special blow your old whistle strain every nerve
Open up the throttle and straighten out the curve
Soon I'll see my baby then happy I will be
Sunshine Special bringing happiness to me
[ harmonica ] Remember when she left me she left me oh so cold
Maybe for love or maybe for gold
But now I know she loves me and longs to be mine
Sunshine Special will be right on time
[ fiddle ] See that engine rolling she's balling the Jack
Her wheels are hummin' Dixie and her headlight's on the track
Watch that engine swayin' as she's coming down the line
Sunshine Special will be right on time

Sunshine Special blow your old whistle...
**********

5.

THAT GLORY BOUND TRAIN

(Roy Acuff - Odell McLeod) « © '60 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Come and listen won't you brother have you heard or don't you know
There's a train that's bound for Glory will you ride it when it goes

Has your ticket yet been purchased for that Glory bound train
Oh will you ride oh will you ride will you ride that train to Glory by and by

Have you made all preparations reservations are complete
When you hear that whistle blowing will you be there at your seat

Has your ticket yet been purchased...
[ ac.guitar ] When these golden bells start ringing swinging on that golden chord
Will you have your ticket ready when you hear that all aboard

Has your ticket yet been purchased...
[ ac.guitar ] When you hear it in the distance hear its mighty drivers roar
Just a little while to tarry then we'll walk those streets of gold

Has your ticket yet been purchased...
**********

6.

WRECK OF THE OLD 97

(Henry Whitler - Charlie W. Noell - Fred J. Lewey) « © '51 Shapiro-Bernstein Co, ASCAP / Sage Brush Music, BMI »
They gave him his orders at Monroe Virginia
Sayin' Steve you're way behind time
This is not 38 but it's old 97
You must put her into Spencer on time

He looked round and said to his black greasy fireman
Shovel on a little more coal
And when we cross that White Oak Mountain
You can watch old 97 roll
[ harmonica - fiddle ] It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
With a line on a three mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his airbrakes
And see what a jump we made
[ dobro ] He was goin' down the grade making ninety miles an hour
When his whistle began to a scream
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
And scalded to death by the steam
[ fiddle ] So come all you ladies you must take a warning
From this time on and learn
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return
**********

7.

FREIGHT TRAIN BLUES

(John Lair) « © '35 Songs Of Universal, BMI »
Now I was born in Dixie in a boomer shack
Just a little shanty by the railroad track
The hummin' of the drivers was my lullaby
And a freight train whistle taught me how to cry

I got the freight train blues lawdy lawdy lawdy lawdy
Got them in the bottom of my rambling shoes
When the whistle blows I gotta go
Oh lawdy guess I'm never gonna lose the freight train blues

My daddy was a fireman and my mama dear
She was the only daughter of an engineer
My sweetie loved a brakeman now it ain't no joke
But it's a shame the way she keeps a good man broke

The steamboat whistle never stirs my soul
Aeroplanes and autos always leave me cold
The only thing that makes me want to navigate
Is a wildcat whistle on a southbound freight

I know I'm old enough to quit this running round
I've tried a hundred times to stop and settle down
But every time I find a place I want to stay
I hear a freight train holler and I'm on my way

I got the freight train blues...
**********

8.

PAN AMERICAN

(Hank Williams) « © '48 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
I have heard your stories about your fast trains
But now I'll tell you bout one all the southern folks have seen
She's the beauty of the southland listen to that whistle scream
It's that Pan American on her way to New Orleans

She leaves Cincinnati headin' down that Dixon Line
When she passes that Nashville Tower you can hear that whistle whine
Stick your hand right out the window and feel that southern breeze
You're on that Pan American on her way to New Orleans
[ dobro ] If you're ever in the southland and want to see the scene
Just get yourself a ticket on that Pan American Queen
There's Louisville Nashville Montgomery the capitol of Alabam
You pass right through them all when you're New Orleans bound
[ harmonica ] She leaves Cincinnati...
**********

9.

FIREBALL MAIL

(Floyd Jenkins) « © '43 Milene Music, ASCAP »
Here she comes look at her roll there she goes eatin' that coal
Watch her fly huggin' the rails let her by by by the fireball mail

Let her go look at her steam hear her blow whistle and scream
Like a hound waggin' his tail Dallas bound bound bound the fireball mail
[ dobro ] Engineer makin' up time tracks are clear look at her climb
See that freight clearin' the rail bet she's late late late the fireball mail
[ ac.guitar ] Watch her swerve look at her sway get that curve out of the way
Watch her fly look at her sail let her by by by the fireball mail
**********

10.

STREAMLINED CANNONBALL

(Roy Acuff) « © '52 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
(She moves along like a cannonball like a star in its heavenly flight)
This lonesome sound from the whistle you love
(As she travels through the night)
A long steel rail a short crosstie I'm on my way back home
I'm on a train the king of them all that Streamlined Cannonball

(She moves along like a cannonball...
[ harmonica ] I can see the smile of an engineer although he's old and gray
A contented heart he awaits to call of the Streamlined Cannonball

(She moves along like a cannonball...
**********

11.

MIDNIGHT TRAIN

(Roy Acuff) « © '48 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
The sunshine comes from lonesome valley
And all alone I must remain
While far away through lonesome vallay
Comes a dying cry of the midnight train

How many tears how many sorrow
How many hearts are died in pain
Whose love today is gone tomorrow
Carried away on that midnight train
[ fiddle - dobro ] We shared our love in sweet surrender
With happy tears and hidden pain
For well we knew our dream was ending
And you must go on that midnight train

That heart burns low the song is dying
And only memories remain
The teardrops flow my heart keeps crying
When I hear the wail of the midnight train

How many tears how many sorrow...
**********

12.

LIFE'S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN

(M.E. Abbey - Charlie D. Tillman) « © '57 Bridge Building Music, BMI »
Life is like a mountain railroad with an engineer that's brave
We must make the run successful from the cradle to the grave
Watch the curves the hills the tunnels never falter never quail
Keep your hand upon the throttle and your eye upon the rail

Blessed Saviour Thou wilt guide us till we reach that blissful shore
Where the angels wait to join us in God's praise forevermore
[ dobro ] As you roll across the trestle spanning Jordan's swelling tide
You behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide
There'll you meet the superintendent God the father God the son
With the hearty joyous plaudit weary pilgrim welcome home

Blessed Saviour Thou wilt guide us...
**********