THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN
(tune: "Little Old Cabin In the Lane", aka "Little Old Sod Shanty On The Claim", aka "Lily of The Valley"

We are jolly American railroad boys and braking is our trade,
We're always on the go both day and night;
Throwing switches, makin' flagstops, along the line we go,
And to see that all the train is made up right.
You bet we're always ready when called upon to go,
No matter whether sunshine or in rain,
And a jolly crew you'd find us if you will come and see
In the little red caboose behind the train.

CH:
So here's success to all the boys that ride upon the cars,
May happiness always with you remain;
And a jolly crew you'd find us if you will come and see,
In the little red caboose behind the train

Two red lights we hang on each side, another one behind,
In the evening when the sun is almost gone;
You bet the lad that rides ahead will keep it in his mind
To see that all the train is coming on.
When we are near the station, how thoughtless out we go,
All a-singin' or whistlin' some refrain;
The we climb out on the hurricane deck and leave our coats inside
Of the little red caboose behind the train.

This little car we speak of, more precious and more dear
Than all the other coaches on the line;
And the reason why we tell you, because it is our home,
We always try to keep it looking fine.
Although we have no fashion lights, no velvet cushion chairs,
Everything inside just neat and plain;
There's many an honest heart that beats beneath that rusty roof,
In the little red caboose behind the train,

So here's success to all the boys that ride upon the cars,
May happiness always with you remain;
For a jolly crew you'd find us if you will come and see,
In the little red caboose behind the train

recorded by The Pickard Family in 1929. This song is a parody of "The Little Old Cabin In the Lane" written in 1871 by Will S. Hays. "Little Old Sod Shanty" was another parody of the same Hays song. Norm Cohen ("Long Steel Rail") says the oldest printed version of the caboose song he found was from 1882. The tune associated with the original and all the parodies is not the one Hays originally wrote, but rather the hymn tune "Lily of the Valley"

rich r