ZACK, THE MORMON ENGINEER (Botkin)

Old Zack, he came to Utah, way back in seventy three,
A right good Mormon gentleman and a bishop, too, was he.
He drove a locomotive for the D. and R. G.,
With women he was popular, as popular as could be.

chorus
And when he'd whistle Hoo! Hoo! Mamma'd understand
That Zack was headed homeward on the Denver and Rio Grande.

Old Zack, he had a wifey in every railroad town.
No matter where he stopped he had a place to lay him down.
And when the his train was coming, he wanted her to know,
So as he passed each wifey's home his whistle he would blow.

Old Zack, he claimed to love his wives and love them all the same,
But always little Mabel was the one that Zack would name.
And as he would pass her he'd blow his whistle loud,
And when she'd throw a kiss to him old Zack would look so proud.

Now listen everybody, because this story's true,
Old Zack, he had a wife in every town that he passed through.
They tried to make him transfer on to the old U. P.
But Zack said, "No" because his wives were on the D. and R. G.

Tune: Oh Susanna

This test is almost exactly the same as the Digital Tradition lyrics, except that the second and third verses are juxtaposed.
Source: A Treasury of Railroad Folklore, by B.A. Botkin & Alvin F. Harlow (Bonanza Books, 1953), page 444. From the Folkways recording FP36 A6 (1952) Mormon Folk Songs, sung by L.M. Hilton

L.M. Hilton Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCzzNVCagJA

Oscar Brand Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUzmMzCuzGw

Art Thieme recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0LwLBDzwM4