ORE TRAIN BLUES
© BOB WILSON 2013


V.1   He got a job way out west carting iron ore
From the outback mines of the Pilbara to the West Australian shore
The hours were long, but the pay was good, but there wasn’t much to do
Except strum the ukulele and sing train songs with the crew.

CH.1
and they sang:
   Freight train, Graveyard train, Blow that Lonesome Whistle train
   The Indian Pacific and the Abalinga Mail
   Night train, Morning train
   Roll in m’Baby’s Arms train
   Picking up the tempo with the rattling of the rails.


V.2   Now the bosses and the union called a meeting in the yard
They had heard about this trio with the engineer and guard
“It’s workplace health and safety, it’s like talking on your phone.”
But he knew it wasn’t the music, they just didn’t like the tone.

CH.2
and they sang:
   Ghost train, Poison train, not bound for glory, This train
   And they all sang la la la la, when They Drove Old Dixie Down
   Bridal train, Salvation train, Get on Board Little Children train
   He could have been the King of the Road but he never got the crown.


V.3 The boss bought high-tech robots from Korea and Japan
And the maiden hands-free journey went pretty much to plan
They said: “It’s a boring job, we’ll find you something else to do.”
Now he’s in a control room, sharing train songs with the crew.

CH.3
and they sang:
   Freight train, Graveyard train, Blow that Lonesome Whistle train
   The Indian Pacific and the Abalinga Mail
   Night train, Morning train
   Roll in m’Baby’s Arms train
   Picking up the tempo with the rattling of the rails.


CH.4
and they sang:
   Mail train, Slow train, Desper-ados Waiting for a Train
   Homeward Bound, John Henry, Engine Engine Number Nine
   Peace train, Freedom train, Robert Johnston’s Love in Vain
   And they all sang like Dylan: well, I'm walkin' down the line
   And they all sang like Dylan: well, I'm walkin' down the line.



For all you lovers of Train Songs - another from Bob & Laurel Wilson (aka The Goodwills) and a great one to try and sing along, esp with the 4 chorus variations!!

You'll find it here :
https://www.thegoodwills.com/store/music-by-the-goodwills/the-last-waterhole/
on their latest CD "The Last Waterhole".


Cheers, R-J