The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #534   Message #4208141
Posted By: RickMohr
10-Sep-24 - 12:06 PM
Thread Name: Lyr ADD: Way Down the Road (Craig Johnson)
Subject: ADD: Way Down the Road (Craig Johnson)
Here's what Craig Johnson sings on his album "Away Down The Road". You can hear/buy it on Bandcamp.

WAY DOWN THE ROAD
(Craig Johnson)

I remember back in '33
When we was still down in Tennessee
Just a'gettin' by took all your time - Away down the road
Then the word went out in ‘41
Uncle Sam says "Get the big job done"
And we hired on at Willow Run - Away down the road

    Chorus:
    Blow your whistle up through the pines
    And out across the mountains and the Clinchfield line
    Blow for better times - Away down the road

We come from the hills and the damn coal mines
Started in to workin' on Henry's lines
Eight hours steady and overtime - Away down the road
But the folks up North didn't want us round
They moved us out on the edge of town
Shoebox houses on the bulldozed ground - Away down the road

    Chorus

We was strong backs bendin' in the welder's light
Rivet guns poundin’ on a windy night
A rich man's war and a poor man's fight - Away down the road
Well you punch in, punch out, make your time
And hurry with the turret boys you're gettin' behind
And the bombers roared low in the blacked-out skies - Away down the road

    Chorus

You're tryin' to pay the rent man, tryin' to save a buck,
Patchin’ up the tires on a wore out truck
And the city folks passin’ holler "Hey, Kentuck' - Away down the road
Oh we’ll move back South when the war gears down
But your dreams die easy when your check comes 'round
And you're caught between the mountains and the factory town - Away down the road

    Chorus

And the plants are shut down the gates all closed
The new cars rust in the rain and snow
Let me sleep where the gunstick laurel grows - Away down the road
You can bury me down in Tennessee
"He lived for a dollar" let my tombstone read
"And died unknown in a strange country" - Away down the road

    Chorus