The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #92353 Message #2659673
Posted By: GUEST,Paul Henry Dallaire
18-Jun-09 - 04:33 PM
Thread Name: Canadian disaster songs: research project
Subject: Lyr Add: DEATH OF THE NEW YORK CENTRAL
Orval Prophet Canadian singer extraordinaire told me about the train and how he knew the people personally, unfortunately Orval died before he could record it.
DEATH OF THE NEW YORK CENTRAL
Hear that New York Central groanin Slowin down at Russell Station Tar paper shacks where time as stopped Fifty years ago
Everything around has flourished But the old train was all finished When the chug a lug of coal fire Was replaced by diesel fuel
She was a school ride to the children The milk run to the farmer Painted like a lion Jim Forsythe the conductor
From Ottawa to Messena Bringin mail and loved ones to ya Folks ran out the back porch When they heard her whistle whine
Chorus: You can't hear her engines roar For she's gone forever more Oh! how time has slipped away
You can see them in the yard Obsolete and rusted hard Snow and rain has killed this train
Verse: Bernie Campbell was station master Dave Preston was a foreman And in my past life I was Casey Jones
Now I'm a railroad country picker Till my time is up I'll wonder My next time around I wanna be an engineer
Words & Music Paul Henry Dallaire Paul Henry Pub. SOCAN
Song may be heard at: www.johnnycashsong.com (2 Versions of it)