lp discography - covers & lyrics

1.

WAITING FOR A TRAIN

(Jimmie Rodgers) «© '29 Peer International, BMI »
All around the water tank waiting for a train
A thousand miles away from home sleeping in the rain
I walked up to a brakeman gave him a line of talk
He said if you've got money boy I'll see that you don't walk
I haven't got a nickel not a penny can I show
Get off get off you railroad bum and he slammed the boxcar door

He put me off in Texas a state I dearly love
The wide open spaces all around me the moon and stars up above
Nobody seems to want me or to lend me a helping hand
I'm on my way from Frisco going back to Dixie Land
Though my pocketbook is empty and my heart is full of pain
I'm a thousand miles away from home just a waiting for a train
**********

2.

BIG WHEELS

(Clovis Yarnall) «© '57 Warden Music, BMI »
Oh them big wheels are turning going somewhere
And they're carrying her away from my side
Yes I cried thought I'd die
Love was just a game to me I thought I'd never cry
I thought she'd be the loser but standing here am I
And that long train is rolling going somewhere
And it's carrying her away from my side
Yes I cried thought I'd die
[ piano ] A broken heart is something that I have never had
But I learned the hard way didn't know it hurt so bad
And them big wheels are turnin' going somewhere
And it's carryinG her away from my side
(Yes he cried thought he'd die)
This burnin' love unwanted this love that never dies
Keeps right on a hurting no matter how I try
And that old rattler rolling going somewhere
And it's carrying her away from my side
Yes I cried thought I'd die
[ guitar ] Many years I've fooled around and many years I've lied
I'd always be a leaving with that suitcase by my side
But that big engine's rolling going somewhere
And it's carrying her away from my side
Yes I cried thought I'd die yes I cried thought I'd die
**********

3.

LAST RIDE

(Ted Daffan - Robert Holcomb) «© '59 Hank's Music, BMI »
In the Dodge City yards of the Santa Fe stood a freight made up for the east
And the engineer with his oil and waste was grooming the great iron beast
While ten cars back in the murky dust a boxcar door swung wide
And a hobo lifted his pal aboard to start on his last long ride
A lantern swung and the freight pulled out the engine it gathered speed
The engineer pulled the throttle wide and clucked to his fiery steed
Ten cars back in the empty box the hobo rolled a pill
The flare of the match showed his partner's face stark white and deathly still
As the train wheels clicked on the coupling joints a song for the rambler's ear
The hobo talked to the still white form his pal for many a year

For a mighty long time we've rambled Jack wth the luck of men that roam
With the backdoor steps for a dining room and a boxcar for a home
We dodget the bulls on the eastern route and the cops on the Chesapeake
We traveled the Leadville narrow gauge in the days of Cripple Creek
We drifted down through sunny Cal on the rails of that old SP
And of all you had through good and bad a half always belonged to me
You made me promise to you Jack if I lived and you cashed in
To take you back to the old churchyard and bury you there with your kin
You seemed to know I would keep my word cause you said that I was right
Well I'm keepin' my promise to you pal cause I'm taking you home tonight
I haven't the money to send you there so I'm taking you back on the fly
It's the decent way for a 'bo to go home to the by and by
I knew that that fever had you Jack and the doctor he just wouldn't come
He was too busy treatin' wealthy folks to doctor a worn out bum

As the train rolled over its ribbons of steel straight to the east it sped
The engineer in his highcab seat kept his eyes on the rails ahead
While ten cars back in the empty box the lonely hobo sighed
For the days of old and his pal so cold who was taking his last long ride
**********

4.

STREAMLINED CANNONBALL

(Roy Acuff) «© '51 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
(It's the Streamlined Cannonball)

A long steel rail and a short crosstie I'm on my way back home
I'm on the train the king of them all the Streamlined Cannonball

For she glides along like a cannonball like a star on its heavenly flight
This lonesome sound of the whistle you love as she travels through the night

Her headlight gleams out into the night her firebox flash you see
The blinds I ride and the lights I love are home sweet home to me

For she glides along...

(The lonesome sound of the whistle you love it's the Streamlined Cannonball)

I can see the smile of an engineer although he's old and gray
A contented heart he awaits back home of the Streamlined Cannonball

For she glides along...
**********

5.

GHOST TRAINS

(Famous Lashua) «© '63 Unichappell Music, BMI »
It was early in the fall and a blowin' up a squall
From the trestle you could hear the weirdest moans
With a mighty lonesome cry came a whistle from the sky
And it chilled the very marrow in my bones
Then a loud rushing roar like you never heard before
Turned the blood to icy water in my veins
As I watched with rising fear something strange was drawing near
And I saw in the clouds ghost trains

(Ghost trains ghost trains what a fearful sight)
The Cannonball and No 9 were racing through the night
Just as they passed me by I heard the engineer cry
Give her coal give her coal shovel it on
You could see the fireman grinning in the engine that was winning
But I knew before the finish they'd be gone
(Well he knew before the fisnish they'd be gone)

You could see the drivers roll as they shovelled on the toll
And the black smoke came pouring from the stacks
As they thundered through the sky I am here to testify
You could hear the wheels a clickin' on the tracks
Through the smoke and the steam you could see the headlights gleam
Now I have no proof but still the fact remains
You may doubt it but I swear there were cinders in my hair
When I saw in the clouds ghost trains

(Ghost trains ghost trains what a fearful sight)
The Cannonball and No 9 were racing through the night
Just as they passed me by I heard the engineer cry
Give her coal give her coal shovel it on
You could see the fireman grinning in the engine that was winning
As I watched I saw them fade into the dawn
(As he watched he saw them fade into the dawn)
**********

6.

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 heading down that Dixon Line
When she passes the Nashville Tower you could 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
[ guitar ] If you're ever in the southland and want to see the scenes
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

She leaves Cincinnati...
**********

7.

SOUTHBOUND

(Ned Miller - Sue Miller) «© '60 Central Songs, BMI »
(Southbound) Hear the clickety clack of the railroad track
Means the wheels are rollin' and I'm goin' back
To the girl I left in a rundown shack I'm southbound
As the miles rush by I miss her more and more
Tears in my eyes and my heart is sore
Soon I'll be a knockin' on her front door I'm southbound

Southbound to my baby southbound I'm nearly crazy
Gonna take her in my arms and never let her go
Never gonna leave her never ever anymore
Soon I'll be a knockin' on her front door I'm southbound
[ piano ] Now the rhythm of the wheels call a memory
Every mile it comes a little closer to me
Soon it's gonna be reality I'm southbound
My heart keeps saying boy you made a mistake
Thought you was a rambler but you're only a fake
This'll be the last trip I'm a gonna make I'm southbound
Southbound to my baby...
[ piano ] Now the night that I left her well she pleaded with me
I know that you're leavin' but it has to be
I'm hopin' that she is a waitin' for me I'm southbound
It's hard to wait till I can see her face
I still remember how her sweet lips taste
Not another day am I gonna waste I'm southbound

(Southbound to my baby southbound I'm nearly crazy)
Gonna take her in my arms and never let her go
Never gonna leave her never ever anymore
Soon I'll be a knockin' on her front door I'm southbound
(Southbound)
**********

8.

WAY OUT THERE

(Bob Nolan) «© '60 Music Of The West, BMI / Unichappell Music, BMI »
(Way out there)

A lonely spot I know where no man will go where the shadows have all the room
I was ridin' free on that old SP humming a southern tune
When a man came along made me hush my song kicked me off way out there
As she pulled out of sight I turned to the right the left and everywhere
But all I could see was a cactus tree and a prairie dog playing there
I watched the prairie dog feed on the tumbleweed that's his home way out there
[ piano ] So I threw down my load in the desert road rested my weary legs too
I watched the sinking sun make the tall shadows run out across that barren plain
Then I hummed a tune to the risin' moon he gets lonesome way out there
So I closed my eyes to the starlit skies and lost myself in dreams
I dreamed the desert sand was a milk and honey land then I awoke with a start
There the train comin' back on the oneway track going to take me away from here
[ guitar ] As she was passin' by I caught her on the fly climbed in an open door
Then I turned around to that desert ground saw the spot I would see no more
As I was ridin' away I heard the pale moon say Farewell pal it sure gets lonesome here
(Way out here)
**********

9.

CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO

(Mack Gordon - Harry Warren) «© '41 WB Music, ASCAP »
Pardon me boy is this the Chattanooga Choo Choo
Track twenty nine boy you can give me a shine
I can't afford to board the Chattanooga Choo Choo
I've got my fare and just a trifle to spare

(You leave the Pennsylvania Station bout a quarter to four
Read a magazine and then you're in Baltimore
Dinner in the diner nothin' could be finer
Than to have your ham and eggs in Carolina)

When you hear the whistle blowin' eight to the bar
Then you know that Tennessee is not very far
Shovel all the coal in gotta keep a rollin'
Ooh ohh Chattanooga there you are

There's gonna be a certain party at the station
Satin and lace I used to call funny face
She's gonna cry until I tell her that I'll never roam
So Chattanooga Choo Choo won't you choo choo me home
(Chattanooga Choo Choo won't you choo choo me home)
**********

10.

WRECK OF THE NO. 9

(Carson J. Robinson) «© '60 MCA Music, ASCAP »
On a cold winter's night not a star was in sight
And the north wind came howling down the line
With his sweetheart so dear stood a brave engineer
With his orders to pull old No 9
She kissed him goodbye with a tear in her eye
But the joy in his heart he could not hide
Oh the whole world seemed bright when she told him that night
That tomorrow she'd be his blushing bride

Oh the wheels hummed a song as the train rolled along
And the black smoke came pouring from the stack
And the headlight agleam seemed to brighten his dream
Of tomorrow when he'd be coming back
He steered around the hill and his brave heart stood still
For a headlight was shining in his face
And he whispered a prayer as he drew on the air
For he knew this would be his final grace
[ piano ] In the wreck he was found lying there on the ground
And he asked them to raise his weary head
As his breath slowly went this the message he sent
To the maiden who thought she would be wed
There's a little white home that I built for our own
Where I dreamed we'd be happy by and by
But I leave it to you for I know you'll be true
Till we meet at the golden gate goodbye
**********

11.

I HEARD THAT LONESOME WHISTLE

(Hank Williams - Jimmie Davis) «© '54 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI / Peer International, BMI »
I was ridin' No 9 heading south from Caroline
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
Got in trouble had to roam left my gal and left my home
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
Just a kid acting smart I went and broke my darling's heart
I guess I was too young to know
They took me off to Georgia Main locked me to a ball and chain
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
[ piano ] All alone I bear the shame I'm a number not a name
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
All I do is sit and cry when the evening train goes by
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
I'll be locked here in this cell till my body's just a shell
And my hair turns whiter than the snow
I'll never see that gal of mine Lord I'm in Georgia doing time
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
**********

12.

CRAZY ENGINEER

(Joe Steen) «© '63 Peer International, BMI »
The black smoke stack was barking the steam made them pistons groan
And behind that screaming whistle you could hear that engine moan
The train was reeling and rocking the passangers were screaming with fear
For the train was being driven by a crazy engineer

I'm driving this engine up to the moon he laughed as the train sped on
Then from the lips of the mad man came a crazy railroad song
[ guitar ] Then out from the blind crept Hobo Bill he was stealing a ride that day
I've rode the blinds on many a train they never traveled this way
He climbed over the bend into the engine cab those passangers lives to save
Then while he fought with the mad man his weary life he gave

(Poor Bill spoke in a whisper this was all they could hear)
I've rode my last railroad ride with a crazy engineer
**********