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I wrote this tune after an argument with a new dispatcher. I was stopped in Bowling Green, Kentucky in the siding. In BG there are several road crossings that you don’t want to block with your train if you have to stop there. My dispatcher didn’t know that I could not see the signal that would have alerted me to leave.

She came on the radio and sort of gave me a big attitude.. so.. I gave her one back and said, “look here missy.. I can sit right here for hours, but you’re the one that has to tell me when to leave.”

We had a few more words and then I pulled my 11,000 ton train outta the hole called Morgantown siding and went south. I then wrote the tune on the back of my orders. Thanks AS for the tune. I didn’t mean to be such an ASS. Wink wink… ask me about this story and I’ll give you the whole story… I left a whole bunch out. HA@!

lyrics

Railroad Man
JPW 2009

I can sit right here for hours,
or I can pull 10000 tons!
I know all the backways into everything and
i'll be here to get the job done.

I am a railroad man
a railroad man,
riding up on the train.
I’m a railroad man,
a railroad man!
Doing my part to move this land!

I’m the one blowin’ that lonesome whistle!
Can't you hear those steel rails whine.
They are singing a song of yesterday,
as we go on down the line!

You might have heard of some of my friends?
Casey Jones and that ol Sim Webb
or you might have heard of ol John Henry!
He’s’ the man that drove that steam drill down.

credits

from I Got My Learnin' From The L&N, released July 14, 2017

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John Paul Wright Louisville, Kentucky

John Paul Wright is a community organizer, union organizer / Labor Singer and Djembe player. Working Locomotive Engineer and Folk Musician.. a man of many hats..

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