The Wreck of the Old 97

They gave him his orders
at Monroe Virginia
Saying Pete your away behind time
This is not 38 but its old 97
You must get her in Spencer on time

He turned around to his black greasy firemen
Saying shovel in a little more coal
And when we crais that wide Oak Mountain
You can watch old 97 roll

Its a mighty rough road from Linchheard to Danville
Its a line on a three mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his average
And you see what a jump he made

He was going down grade making ninty miles an hr
When his whistle broke into a scream
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle
And was scalded to death by the steam

Now ladies all you must take warning
And for this time now and all
never speak harsh words to your true love or husband
He may leave you and never return

Give My Love to Nellie Jack

Three years ago since Jack and Joe
Set sail across the foam
Each vowed his fortune he would make
Before returning home
In one short year Jack gained his wealth
And home he did set sail
And just before they shook hands to part
Poor Joe could only say

Give my love to Nellie Jack
And kiss her once for me
The sweetest girl in all this world
Im sure you’ll say is she
Treat her kindly Jack old pal
And tell her I am well
His parting words were don’t forget
To give my love to Nell

Two years have past and Joe at last
had gained enough for life
And he set sail across the sea
To make sweet Nell his wife
but when he reached his nature shore
A friend to
When on his way he heard them say
That Jack and Nell were wed
He now regrets between sales and [frets]
That he had ever said

When on the street they chanced to meet
Said Joe you selfish elf
The next girl that I learn to love
I”ll kiss her for myself
But all is fair in love they say so since you’ve gone and wed
I’ll not be angry Jack old pal
Once again he said

The Engineers Child

A little child on a sick bed lay
And death seemed very near
She was the child, and the only child
Of a railroad engineer

His duty had called him from the ones he loved
From the home where lights were dimmed
Fears he shed to his wife he said
I’ll leave two lanterns trimmed

Just set a lantern in the window tonight
Se it where it can be seen
If my darling is dead show the red
If shes better then show the green

In the neat little cottage by the railroad track
Sat a Mother with watchful eye
Saw a gleam of hope in the little ones face
As the train went rushing by

When at last a glance was his only chance
The signal light he’d seen
Then on the midnight air there rose a prayer
Thank the Lord the light is green

Poor Little Joe

While strolling one night through New Yorks gay throng
I met a poor boy who was singing a song
And although he was smiling he wanted for bread
And although he was singing he wished himself dead
I spoke to this poor boy out in the snow
He had no place to shelter him no where to go
No Mother to guide him in the grave she is low
Lost on the cold street was poor little Joe

Cold blew the blast down came the snow
He had no place to shelter him no where to go
No MOther to guide him in the grave she was low
Died on the cold street did poor little Joe

A carriage passed by with a lady inside
I looked on poor Joes face and saw that he cried
He followed the carriage she not even smilied
but fondly caressing her own darling child
I looked on this wail and I thought it was odd
If this poor ragged urchin forgotten by God
And I saw by the firelight that shone in the snow
The pale deathly features of poor little Joe

The lights had gone out and the clock had struck one
Along came a policeman whos duty was done
I could tell by the sound of his duty heavy feet
You’d think he was sinking the grave of the deep
Oh what is this the policeman said
It was poor little Joe on the ground he was dead
With his face turned to heaven all covered with snow
Died on the cold street did poor little Joe

If Brother Jack Were Here

Two drummers they were seated
in a grand hotel one day
While dining they were chatting
In a joker sort of way

There came a pretty waitress
Who brought a tray of food
They spoke to her familiarly
In a manner rather rude

At first she did not notice
Nor make the least reply
But one remark was made to her
Brought teardrops to her eyes

She turned on her tormentors
Her cheeks were blushing red
Approaching as a picture
This is what she said

My mother was a lady
And yours you will allow
And you may have a sister
Who needs protection now
I came to this great city
To find my brother dear
And you would ne’re insult me sir
If brother Jack were here

The two sat there in silence
Their heads hung down in shame
Forgive us miss we meant no harm
Pray tell us what’s your name

She told them and one cried allowed
I know your brother too
For weve been friends for many years
And he often spoke of you

Pray come iwth me when I go back
And if you’ll only wed
I’ll take you to him as my bride
For I love you since you said

Little Marian Parker

Way out in California a family bright and gay
were planning for their Christmas not very far away
They had a little daughter A sweet and pretty child
And all the folks who knew her loved Marian Parker’s smile

She left her home one morning for school not far away
And no one dreamed that danger could come to her that day
And then a murdrous villa a fiend with heart of stone
Took little Marian Parker away from friends and home
The world was horror stricken and people held their breath
Until they found poor Marian Her body cold in death
And then they caught the coward yound Hickman was their man
They brought him back to justice his final trail to stand

There is a great commandment that says thou shat not kill
And those who do not heed it their cup of sorrow fill
This song should be a warning to parents far and near
We cannot guard too closely the ones we love so dear

Barbra Allen

In London City where I once did dwell
There’s where I got my learning
I fell in love with a paretty young girl
Her name was Barbra Allen

I courted her for seven long years
She said she would not have me
Then straight way home es I could go
And liken to a dying

I wrote her a letter on my death bed
I wrote it slow and moving
So take this letter to my own true love
And tell her I am dying

She took the letter in her little white hand
She read it slow and moving
Go take this letter back to him
And tell him I am coming

As she passed by his dying bed
She saw his pale lips quivering
No better no better I’ll ever be
Until I get Barbara Allen

As she passed by his dying bed
You’re very sick and almost dying
No better no better you will ever be
For you can’t get Barbra Allen

As she went down the long stair steps
She heard teh death bell toning
And every bell appeartd to say
Hard hearted Barbra Allen

She looked to the East and she looked to the West
She saw the pale corpse coming
Go bring them pale corpse to me
And let me gaze upon them

Oh mamma mamma go make my bed
Go make it soft and narrow
Sweet Willaim died today for me
I’ll die for him tomorrow

They burried Sweet William in the old church yard
They burried Miss Barbra beside him
And out of his grave there sprand a red rose
And out of hers a briar

They grew to the top of the old church tower
They could not grow any higher
They hooked they tied in a true lovers knot
Red rose around the briar

Casey Jones

Come all you rounders for I want you to hear
The story of a brave engineer
Casey Jones was the rounders name
On a heavy big eight wheeler of a mighty train

Called called Casey bout half past four
He kissed his wife at the station door
Climbed to the cab with the orders in his hand
He says this is my trip to the holy land

Out of the South Memphis yard on the fly
Heard the firemen say you got a white eye
Well the switchman knew by the engine moan
That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones

The rain was comin down five or six weeks
the railroad track was like the bed of a creek
They slaved her down to a thirty mile gait
And the South bound mail was eight hours late

Fireman says Casey youre runnin too fast
you run that black board the last station you past
Casey says I believe we’ll make it through
For she steams a lot better than I ever know

Casey says firemen, don’t you fret
Keep knocking at the fire door don’t give up yet
Im goign to run her till she leaves the rail
Or Make it on time with the south bound mail

Around the curve and down the dump
two locomotives was abound to jump
Fireman hollered Casey its just ahead
We might jump and make it but we’ll all be dead

Around the curve comes a passenger train
Casey blows the whistle tells the fireman ring the bell
Fireman jumps and says Good-bye
Casey Jones your bound to die

Well Casey Jones was alright
He stuck to his duty day and night
They loved his whistle and his ring number three
And he came into Memphis on the old IC

Fireman goes down the depot track
Begging his noney to take him back
She says Oranges on the table Peaches on the shelf
Youre a goin to get tired sleeping by yourself

Mrs Casy Jones was a sittin on the bed
Telegram comes that Casey is dead
She says children go to bed and hush your cryin
Cause you got another Papa on the Tusco line

Headaches and heartaches and all kinds of pain
They aint apart from a railroad train
Stairs of brave men noble and grand
Belong to the life of a railroad man

Frankie and Johnny

Frankie and Johnny were lovers
OH lordy how they could love
Swore to be true to each other
True as the stars above
He was her man but we done her wrong so wrong

Johnny’s mother told him
And she was mighty nice
Don’t spend Frankie’s money
On that parlor Ann Eliz
Your Frankie’s man and your doin her wrong so wrong

Frankie and Johnny were walking
Johnny in his brand new suit
Oh good lawd says Frankie
Dont my Johnny look cute
He was her man but he done her wrong so wrong

The Irishman’s Shanty

Did ye’s ever go into an Irishman’s shanty
Oh boys that’s the place where whiskey is plenty
Wid his pipe in his mouth there sits Paddy so free
No king in his palace is prouder than he

There’s a three-legged stool wid a table to match
And the door of the shanty is locked wid a latch
There’s a note feather mattress all bustin wid straw
For the want of a bed stead it lies on the floor

There’s a smug little bureau with out paint or gilt
Made of boards that were left when the shanty was built
There’s a three-cornered mirror that hangs on the wall
But ne’re a face has been in it at all

He has a pig in the sty and a cow in the stable
And he feeds them on scraps that is left from the table
They’d starve if confined so they roam at their ease [aiase]
And cam into the shanty whenever they plaise

He has three rooms in one kitchen bedroom and hall
And his [chist] it is three wooden pegs on the wall
Two suits of old clothes make his wardrobe complete
One to wear in the shanty the same on the street

There is one who partakes of his sorrows and joys
Attends to the shanty the girls and the boys
The kids he thinks more of their gold thats refined
But Biddy’s the jewel that’s set in his mind