Where are They Now?
Where are the bunkhouses
Where they once washed up - ate - slept
Where is the work we used to have for them
Where is the next freight train out of town
Where are the freight trains
They used to jump on and off
To get to the next work camp
The next job -the next hobo camp -
The last train pulled out
Of our abandoned station long ago
They're stuck in our town with
No jobs - homeless under a bridge
poem by Tom J. Mariani
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Last Hobo
This song was first released on the all aboard! album. it is the only album it has been released on.
He was born in international falls a long, long time ago
Moved to tucumcan when the ironwork got show
He was cornbread and hard scrabble and scratching for every dime
till he threw it in and he kilt the road to walk that endless line
Now hes the last hobo
Riding the last boxcar
On the last freight train
Leaving here
Now hes the last hobo
Riding the last boxcar
On the last freight train
Away from here
He tried his hand at lots of jobs and he did em all with pride
From shoeing mules to driving trucks, he mastered what he tried
It must have been ramona, she was all he cared about
When she ran away and left him you could see the fire go out
Now hes the last hobo
Riding the last boxcar
On the last freight train
Away from here
We hardly ever see him
Once or twice and he would stay a day or two
Hed ask about ramona
Then hed say that he was only passing through
Now he knows every railroad bull along the right of way
And every hobo jungle from new york to santa fe
Hes looked for his ramona on the far side of the hill
Now his sun is sinking lower and hes looking for her still
Now hes the last hobo
Riding the last boxcar
On the last freight train
Leaving from here
Now hes the last hobo
Riding the last boxcar
On the last freight train
Away from here
Words and music by george allen
song performed by by John Denver
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Freight Train
Well I just came down from Chippewa
I had a station wagon and a hundred dollars
I was thinkin' about the girl I'd lost a year before
I hadn't seen her for some time
I thought that I might go on by
When your memory came floodin' in
And you closed that door
[CHORUS:]
Wish I was a freight train baby
Wish I was a diesel locomotive
I'd come whistlin' down your track
Crashin' in your door
Wish I was a freight train baby
Wish I didn't have a heart
And you'd need a shovel for the coal
Just to get me started
Wish I was a freight train baby
Wish I was a freight train
Well every time I talk to you
And I hear your jealous lies
I feel like I've been left abandoned
On some old railway side
And every time I hear your voice
My water just gets cold
My stoker will not stoke
And my boiler will not boil
[CHORUS]
Well every time I fell behind
And I could not get ahead
I wish someone would pull the lever
And give me a little sand
And every time I slip behind
Even further back
I wish some switchman would come out of the fog
And change my track
Wish I was a freight train baby
Wish I was a diesel locomotive
I'd come whistlin' down your track
Crashin' in your door
Wish I was a freight train baby
Wish I didn't have a heart
And you'd need a shovel for the coal
Just to get me started
Wish I was a freight train baby
Wish I was a freight train . . .
song performed by by Kasey Chambers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hobos Meditation
Tonight as I lay on the boxcar
Just waiting for a train to pass by
What will become of the hobo
When his time comes to die
Theres a master up yonder in heaven
Got a place that we might call our home
Will we have to work for a living
Or can we continue to roam
Will there be any freight trains in heaven
Any boxcars in which we might hide
Will there by any tough cops or brakemen
Will they tell us that we cannot ride
Will the hobo chum with the rich man
Will we always have money to spare
Will they have respect for the hobo
In that land that lies up there
Repeat chorus
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man
(traditional)
Good morning, mr. railroad man
What time do your trains roll by ?
"at 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes 'till 5"
"at 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes 'till 5"
Thank you, mr. railroad man
I want to watch your trains go by
Standing on a platform, smoking a cheap cigar
And waiting for an old freight train that carries an empty car
Well, i pulled my hat down over my eyes
And i walked across the tracks
And i caught me the end of an old freight train
And i never did come back
Well, i sat down in a gamblin' game
But i could not play my hand
I was thinkin' about the woman i loved
Run away with another man, poor boy
Run away with another man
I was thinking about the woman that i loved
Run away with another man
song performed by by Ry Cooder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cross-tie Walker
I went down to the station, just to take a ride.
I went down to the station, just to take a ride.
Found myself on a flatcar, yesterday behind.
Pullin out from the platform, there was no brass band.
I pulled out from the platform, nobody raised a hand.
And there were no tears of regret from my runaway train.
Train, train, train, train.
Got no sand in my pocket, you know I aint tied down.
Aint no sand in my pocket, never do sit down.
Im just a cross-tie walker, where the freight trains run.
Run, run, run, run.
If you see me acomin, dont you waste my time.
If you see me acomin, dont you waste my time.
cause theres more miles between us than the santa fe line.
Run, run, run, run.
Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm....
song performed by by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Send My Body
Well that judge he found me guilty of wrong doing
And he sentenced me to hang in mid July
He look down at me and said you're lifes a ruin
If I were you I'd break right down and cry
But nobody seems to care that I ain't guilty
'Cause I never did the things they said I've done
But I guess they're gonna have to hang somebody
And It's lookin' like I'm goin to be the one
Chorus:
So send my body home on a freight train
And don't worry none that I don't go first class
Send my body home on a freight train
So everyone can see me when I pass
And don't worry none about no fancy funeral
It don't matter how they lay me down
Just see they bury me out by mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home town
--- Instrumental ---
My mama was one damn hard workin' woman
She tried to raise us kids without a pa
The last thing that she said she was on her dying bed
Was son don't get in trouble with the law
Whenever my time comes to meet my maker
I'm going to try to do my very best
I'm going try to stand and take it like a man
When they ask if I have one request
Chorus:
I'll just say .....
Send my body home on a freight train
And don't worry none that I don't go first class
Send my body home on a freight train
So everyone can see me when I pass
And don't worry none about no fancy funeral
'Cause it don't matter how they lay me down
Just See they bury me out by mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home town
Yes, just see they bury me out by mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home town...
song performed by by Randy Travis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Freight Train Blues
(first releasetraditional, arranged by bob dylan)
I was born in dixie in a boomers shack,
Just a little shanty by the railroad track
Freight train was it taught me how to cry,
The holler of the driver was my lullaby.
Ive got the freight train blues (hee, hee, hoo)
Oh, lawdy mama got em on the bottom of my ramblin shoes
And when the whistle blows, I gotta go
Baby dont you know
It looks like Im never gonna lose
The freight train blues.
Well, my daddy was a fireman and my mama hear
She was the only daughter of the engineer
My sweetheart loved the brakeman and that aint no joke
Its a shame the way she keeps a good man broke.
I got the freight train blues (hee, hee, hoo)
Oh, lawdy I got em in the bottom of my ramblin shoes
And when the whistle blows, I gotta go
Oh mama dont you know
Well it looks like Im never gonna lose
The freight train blues.
Well, the only thing that makes you laugh again
Is a south bound whistle on a south bound train
Every place I want to go
I never can go because you know
Because I got the freight train blues (hee, hee, hoo)
Oh, lawdy mama, got em on the bottom of my ramblin shoes
song performed by by Bob Dylan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hank Williams Version Of Freight Train Blues
Freight train blues written by john lair 1935. recorded by roy acuffs
Crazy tennesseans 1936, dynamite hatcher vocal, acuff mimics the train
Whistle.
This is hank williams 1939-40 version on the 10 cd box set from mercury.
(c) I was born in dixie in a boomers shack,
Just a little old shanty by a (g7) railroad (c) track,
The hummin of the drivers was my lullaby,
And a freight train whistle taught me (g7) how to (c) cry.
Chorus:
(c) Ive got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy,
Got em in the bottom of my (d7) ramblin (g7) shoes,
And (c) when that whistle blows, Ive gotta go, (c7)
(f) oh! lordy! (c) guess Im never gonna (a7) lose,
The (d7) mean old (g7) freight train (c) blues.
(c) now my pappy was a fireman and my mammy dear,
Was the only daughter of an (g7) en-gin- (c) eer,
My sister married a brakeman and it aint no joke,
Now its a shame the way she keeps a (g7) good man (c) broke.
Chorus: (one word changed, that whistle, to, the whistle.)
(c) Ive got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy,
Got em in the bottom of my (d7) ramblin (g7) shoes,
And(c) when the whistle blows, Ive gotta go, (c7)
(f) oh! lordy! (c) guess Im never gonna (a7) lose,
The (d7) mean old (g7) freight train (c) blues.
song performed by by Hank Williams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Meet Me At The Station
(brother williams memphis sanctified singers)
Well if I get to heaven before you do
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Ill be watching and waiting, mother dear, for you
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Father, when the train
Father, when the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
When the train
Father, when the train comes along
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Well if my eyes see the glory, before yours do
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Ill be watching and waiting, father, for you
I will meet you at the station whe your train comes along
Father, when the train
Father, when the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
Father, when the train
Father, when the train comes along
I will meet you at the station when your train comes along
Now if my feet touch the homeline before yours do
I will meet you at the station when the train comes along
Ill be watching and waiting, my brother, for you
I will meet you at the station when the train comes along
When the train
When the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
When the train
When the train comes along
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
When the train
When the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
When the train
When the train comes along
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
Now if you see gods country before I do
Will you meet me at the station when my train comes along
Will you be there watching, sister, for me
Will you meet me at the station when my train comes along
When my train
When my train
Meet me at the station when my train comes along
When my train
Sister, when my train comes along
Will you meet me at the station when my train comes along
When the train
When the train
Meet me at the station when my train comes along
When the train
Oh, when the train
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
Meet me at the station when the train comes along
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Railroad Song
(ed king - ronnie vanzant)
I jumped off a boxcar down around tennessee
I was cold tired and dirty hungry as I could be
But I had my guitar and a hundred railroad songs
So I asked the policeman
Can I stay here long
He said mr. hobo you got to go now
We dont want you around
See Im trying to build a respectable town
And we dont need a hobo like you around
So I left that town, lord with my guitar in my hand
Still cold and tired, kinda mad at the man
But this life that I chose to live, sometimes strange
See Im trying to learn about the old music from ridin the train
Im a hobo I know, but thtas the price I pay
Guess Ill write me another song while Im on my way
Catch me another train and this is what Ill say
Mr choo-choo train take me away
Im goin to ride this train lord until I find out
What jimmie rogers and the hag was all about
See I play this rock n roll and I think thats fine
But I wnta to go back a little further in time
Im a hobo I know but thats the price I pay
Guess Ill write me another song while Im on my way
Catch me another train and this is what Ill say
Mr choo-choo train take me away
song performed by by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hit Me Like A Train
I have visions, I have visions of a happy land
And in this happy land, happy land
There is still one unhappy man
Because of all the things he wants
There is always something he cant have
Its like a siren singing, like a church bell ringing
I can feel you winning, and my head starts spinning
Now Im back at the beginning
I, i, I see you lying there and
I, I felt a wave come over me and
I, i, I thought I had escaped you
As I sat down by the roadside
And it hit me like a train
Hit me like a freight train
When the truth came down on me
It hit me like a long, slow train
It is written, I know its written
All gods children get smitten
And if theres anyone, anybody
I know the [lord] can fit that description
And if I could turn back the hands of time
Still I wouldnt know what Im supposed to change
Its like a well gone dry, like a kiss goodbye
As the grip gets tighter, I continue to fight it
Then you strike me with your lightning
I, i, I woke up in a cold sweat and
I, I thought I heard you call my name and
I, i, I had to reach out for your fingers
And before I could call the doctor
You hit me like a train
Hit me like a freight train
When the truth came down on me
Swear you hit me like a long, slow train
Lord you hit me like a train
Hit me like a coal train
When your love came down on me yeah
Say hit me like a long, slow
Lord I feel it coming down and
I, i, i, i, oooh
I, i, i, oh lord have mercy [on me]
I cant hold out no longer
I was ready to surrender
And it hit me like a train yeah
Hit me like a freight train
When your love came down on me yeah
And it me like a long, slow train
Lord you hit me like a train
Hit me like a soul train
When your love, when your love came down on me child
Hit me like a long slow [how long was it] long train
Hit me like a coal train?
song performed by by Todd Rundgren
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Freight Train Blues
(c) i was born in dixie in a boomer's shack,
Just a little old shanty by a (g7) railroad (c) track,
The hummin' of the drivers was my lullaby,
And a freight train whistle taught me (g7) how to (c) cry.
Chorus:
(c) i've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy,
Got 'em in the bottom of my (d7) ramblin' (g7) shoes,
And (c) when that whistle blows, i've gotta go, (c7)
(f) oh! lordy! (c) guess i'm never gonna (a7) lose,
The (d7) mean old (g7) freight train (c) blues.
(c) now my pappy was a fireman and my mammy dear,
Was the only daughter of an (g7) en-gin- (c) eer,
My sister married a brakeman and it ain't no joke,
Now it's a shame the way she keeps a (g7) good man (c) broke.
Chorus: (one word changed, that whistle, to, the whistle.)
(c) i've got the freight train blues, lordy, lordy, lordy,
Got 'em in the bottom of my (d7) ramblin' (g7) shoes,
And(c) when the whistle blows, i've gotta go, (c7)
(f) oh! lordy! (c) guess i'm never gonna (a7) lose,
The (d7) mean old (g7) freight train (c) blues.
song performed by by Hank Williams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Early Mornin Rain
In the early morning rain
With a dollar in my hand
With an achin in my heart
And my pockets full of sand
Im a long way from home
And I miss my loved ones so
In the early morning rain
With no place to go
Out on runway number nine
Big seven-o-seven set to go
But Im stuck here in the grass
Where the cold wind blows
Now the liquor tasted good
And the women all were fast
Well there she goes my friend
Well shes rollin down at last
Hear the mighty engines roar
See the silver bird on high
Shes away and westward bound
Far above the clouds shell fly
Where the mornin rain dont fall
And the sun always shines
Shell be flyin oer my home
In about three hours time
This old airports got me down
Its no earthly good to me
cause Im stuck here on the ground
As cold and drunk as I can be
You cant jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So Id best be on my way
In the early morning rain
You cant jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So Id best be on my way
In the early morning rain
song performed by by Gordon Lightfoot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Long Lost John
-hmm, I think the piano maybe is better, I just realised the ......? ..........hmm....hello, yoko...yeah!.
Well, hes long, long, lost john
Long, long, lost john.
Lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the top
Well, hes long, long, lost john
Yeah, long, long, lost john.
Well, lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the top
Well, hes long, long, long lost john
Well, hes long, long, lost john.
Well, lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the.......
Well, long, long, long john
Well, oh yeah.
I got it about at half past three
You dont look out, shes gonna spew on me
Im gonna run, railroad bill
Im gonna ru....
-hello, richard? mo, mo, Im different, thats one of the problems with it
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Long Lost John
-hmm, I think the piano maybe is better, I just realised the ......? ..........hmm....hello, yoko...yeah!.
Well, hes long, long, lost john
Long, long, lost john.
Lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the top
Well, hes long, long, lost john
Yeah, long, long, lost john.
Well, lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the top
Well, hes long, long, long lost john
Well, hes long, long, lost john.
Well, lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the.......
Well, long, long, long john
Well, oh yeah.
I got it about at half past three
You dont look out, shes gonna spew on me
Im gonna run, railroad bill
Im gonna ru....
-hello, richard? mo, mo, Im different, thats one of the problems with it
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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No Leaf Clover
And it feels right this time
On this crash course were in the big time
Pay no mind to the distant thunder
Beauty fills his head with wonder, boy....
Says it feels right this time
Turn around, found new high lights
Good day to be alive sir
Good day to be alive, he said.....
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel
Is just a freight train coming your way
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel
Is just the freight train coming your way
Dont it feel right like this
All the pieces fall to his wish
Suck up for that quick reward boy
Suck up for that quick reward they said.....
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel
Is just a freight train coming your way
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel
Is just the freight train coming your way......
Its coming your way
Its coming your way......
Here comes
Yeah, then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel
Is just a freight train coming your way.... yeah...
Then it comes to be, yeah...
Then it comes to be, yeah...
Then it comes to be, yeah...
Then it comes to be, yeah...
Then it comes to be, yeah...
Then it comes to be, yeah...
Then it comes to be, yeah...
Then it comes to be, yeah
song performed by by Metallica
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Freight Train Boogie / Choo Choo Ch'boogie
(GriffinHorton, Darling, Gabler)
Casey Jones was a mighty man, now he's resting in the Promised Land.
The only thing he could understand was an eight-wheel driver under his command.
He made the freight train boogie all the time.
He made the freight train boogie as he rolled down the line.
Woo woo, wah wah, woo woo, wah wah. Woo woo, wah wah, woo woo, wah wah.
He made the freight train boogie as he rolled down the line.
I'm headed for the station with my pack on my back,
I'm tired of transportation in the back of a hack.
I just love the rhythm of the clickity-clack,
I hear the whistle blowing, see the smoke from the stack.
And pal around with democratic fellas named Mac,
Take me right back to the track, Jack.
Choo choo, choo choo ch'boogie, woo woo, woo woo ch'boogie.
Choo choo, choo choo ch'boogie, take me right back to the track, Jack.
You reach your destination and alas and alack,
You need some compensation to get back in the black.
You take a morning paper from the top of the stack
and read the situation from the front to the back.
The only job that's open needs a man with a knack,
take me right back to the track, Jack.
Choo choo, choo choo ch'boogie, woo woo, woo woo ch'boogie.
Choo choo, choo choo ch'boogie, take me right back to the track, Jack.
Choo choo, choo choo ch'boogie, woo woo, woo woo ch'boogie.
Choo choo, choo choo ch'boogie,
He made the freight train boogie as he rolled down the line.
song performed by by John Denver
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Freight Train Boogie
This song was first released on the all aboard! album. it is the only album it has been released on.
Casey jones he was a mighty man
But now hes resting in the promised land
The only thing he could understand
Was an eight wheel driver under his command
He made the freight train boogie
All the time
He made the freight train boogie
As he rolled down the line
Whoo whoo, wah wah
Whoo whoo, wah wah
Whoo whoo, wah wah
Whoo whoo, wah wah
He made the freight train boggle
As he rolled down the line
Words and music by kevin griffin
song performed by by John Denver
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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To have a girl like you
I remember you coming
to Pretoria station
to say goodbye
while I caught the train
to a military camp
and four months of war.
The clock on the wall
showed that we were
half an hour early
and I bought you a can of Coke
at the café
before we walked
to the right platform
where the train
departing to Cape Town
had just come in
and I carried the brown duffle bag
and was dressed in my brown uniform
with shining boots and beret
and your big blue eyes
had a life of their own.
It was always first Cape Town,
then De Brug (at Bloemfontein) ,
next Luhatla and after that to war
and by then you knew that route.
There was a sad smile on your face
and you were beautiful
in a classical way and slender
and I gave you a hug
and a goodbye kiss
and when that train left
we both waved.
Other soldiers where also
looking and waving at you
and some to loved ones
and another officer said
that I was lucky
to have a girl like you
and the next goodbye
was at Waterkloof military airbase,
but you wouldn’t be in it
and I didn’t know it then.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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St Louis Blues
I hate's to see dat ev'nin' sun go down
Hate's to see dat ev'nin' sun go down
Cause ma baby, she done lef' dis town
If I feel tomorrow lak ah feel today
Feel tomorrow lak ah feel today
I'll pack up my trunk, and make ma git away
Saint Louis woman wid her diamon' rings
Pulls dat man 'roun' by her apron strings
'Twern't for powder an' her store-bought hair
De man she love wouldn't gone nowhere, nowhere
Got dem Saint Louis Blues I'm as blue as ah can be
Like a man done throwed that rock down into de sea
Got dem Saint Louis Blues I'm as blue as ah can be
Went to de gypsy get her fortune tole
To de gypsy, done got her fortune tole
Cause she most wile 'bout her Jelly Roll
Now dat gypsy tole her, "Don't you wear no black"
She done tole her, "Don't you wear no black
Go to Saint Louis, you can win him back"
If she git toCairo, make Saint Louis by herself
Git to Cairo, find her old friend Jeff
gwine to pin herself, right there, to his side If she flag his train, she sho' can ride
And she sang
Got dem Saint Louis Blues jes as blue as ah can be
Dat man got a heart lak a rock cast into de sea
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me
Doggone it!
I loves day man lak a schoolboy loves his pie
Lak a Kentucky Col'nel loves his mint an' rye
I'll love ma baby till the day ah die
Now a black-headed gal makes a freight train jump the track
Said a black-headed gal makes a freight train jump the track
But a long tall gal makes a preacher ball the jack
Lawd, a blonde-headed woman make a good man leave the town
I said a blonde-headed woman make a good man leave the town
But a red-headed woman make a boy slap his pappy down
song performed by by Louis Armstrong
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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