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The Old Engineer

from Hilo by Brother Joshua

/

lyrics

I drove this train for 45 years/ I drove this train for 45 years
That lonely whistle is still in my ears
Still in my ears/ Still in my ears

They turned my soul to iron and coal
They turned my soul to iron and coal
My weary mind, I can’t control
I can’t control/ I can’t control

The bend in the rails
Like the bones in my back
They say John Henry himself laid these tracks
I’m taking it home like Casey Jones
Like Casey Jones/ Like Casey Jones

My great-grandfather’s grave
Lies outside of town
You can see it from the tracks
When the leaves are all down
He worked the mines for most of his life
Like I work this line/ Like I work this line

They’ll take my gloves and they’ll take my hat
They’ll take my shovel and close down my tracks
But I’m taking their train/ I’m taking it back
I’m taking it back/ I’m taking it back

Now throw on the coal, I’m out of control
Throw on the coal, I’m out of control
I’m gonna take my load into the great unknown
Into the great unknown/ Into the great unknown

credits

from Hilo, released November 20, 2015

license

all rights reserved

tags

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