Lyr Req: Fate of Chris Lively and Wife (A Reed)

18 Feb 00 - 09:52 PM (#181032)
Subject: Lyr Add: FATE OF CHRIS LIVELY AND WIFE (A Reed)
From: Arkie

They just don't write them like this anymore.

FATE OF CHRIS LIVELY AND WIFE

recorded by Blind Alfred Reed

Listen friends I will tell you a story
It is one that is sad to relate
At a crossing not far from Pat's Junction
There Chris Lively and wife met their fate.

Chorus:
What a mistake he made at the crossing
When he drove the wagon on the railroad track
They were killed, engine crushed horse and wagon
Oh how sad to know they never can come back.

It is sad when we think how it happened
The sad fate of Chris Lively and wife
They were driving along gay and happy
Never thought they would be robbed of life.

They were killed at a place near Pat's Junction
They are gone to come back never more
Was an east bound train that killed them
Lives were crushed out by train number four.

Now good people I hope you take warning
As you journey along through this life
Everytime when you see a railroad crossing
Just remember Chris Lively and wife.

Don't know anything about the song. Found it on one of County Records anthologies of mountain ballads and songs. Assume it is about an actual tragic accident and have been told it happened in West Virginia. Hope someone knows a little more to add to the story or correct any misconceptions.

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I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

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19 Feb 04 - 12:24 AM (#1118877)
Subject: Lyr Add: FATE OF CHRIS LIVELY AND WIFE (A Reed)
From: GUEST,Gene

a net pal sent me a recording of another old time song
of tragedy that I do not ever recall hearing...

& cannot make out where wreck occurred
(***) junction

Fate Of Chris Lively And Wife

Listen friends I will tell you a story
It is one that is sad to relate
At a crossing not far from (***) junction
There Chris Lively and wife met their fate

Chorus
Oh the mistake he made at the crossing
When he drove the wagon on the railroad track
They were killed, engine crushed horse and wagon
Oh how sad to know they never can come back

It is sad when we think how it happened
The sad fate of Chris Lively and wife
They were driving along gay and happy
Never thought they would be robbed of life

Chorus

They were killed at a place near (***) junction
They are gone to come back never more
Was an east bound train that killed them
Lives were crushed out by train no. 4

Chorus

Now good people I hope you take warning
As you journey along thru this life
Every time when you see railroad crossings
Just remember Chris Lively and wife

Chorus

(***) Unclear

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19 Feb 04 - 12:41 AM (#1118886)
Subject: RE: Lyr Help: Fate of Chris Lively & Wife
From: Stewie

Arkie has posted this and had 'Pat's' junction. However, the site linked below gives the place as Pax, West Virginia, and I can hear that now that I have been told what it is.

Blind Alfred Reed.

--Stewie.

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19 Feb 04 - 01:25 AM (#1118904)
Subject: RE: Lyr Help: Fate of Chris Lively & Wife
From: GUEST,Gene

thanks Stewie...

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19 Feb 04 - 01:39 AM (#1118906)
Subject: RE: Lyr Help: Fate of Chris Lively & Wife
From: Joe Offer

No mention of this in the Long Steel Rail songbook, which is the Bible of railroad songs. I hope you don't mind that I moved Arkie's transcription over to this thread.
-Joe Offer-

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19 Feb 04 - 10:40 AM (#1119164)
Subject: RE: Lyr Help: Fate of Chris Lively & Wife
From: GUEST,Arkie

Its nice to see a revival of Chris Lively & Wife after all these years and an answer to some of the questions regarding the incident. I simply wrote what I thought I heard. If I had checked a map of West Virginia I would have found Pax, a rather small place judging from the map, between Charleston and Beckley. With a railroad in close proximity. Also a Pack's Branch and a Pack's Branch Road in the neighborhood.

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