David Allan Coe - The Great Nashville Railroad Disaster lyrics

By Bobby Braddock & Rafe Vanhoy Dedication: To Billy Sherrill for having the courage to stand by me and my career even when everyone told him they'd never play my records because of my life style. Thanks Radar! ONE SULTRY SUMMER MORNING IN THE YEAR OF 1918 THREE HUNDRED MEN WITH EBONY SKIN PULLED OUT OF UNION STATION HEADING OUT OF NASHVILLE FOR WESTERN TENNESSEE HOMEWARD BOUND CAUSE UNCLE SAM CLOSED DOWN THE MUNITIONS FACTORY. AT THAT VERY MOMENT ON THE CHEATHAM COUNTY LINE OLD NUMBER ONE TRAIN FROM MEMPHIS WAS RUNNING WAY BEHIND BACK IN THE SMOKEY CLUB CAR A MEMPHIS GAMBLING MAN SAID GENTLEMAN, IM FOLDING THESE CARDS CAUSE I DREW A DEAD MANS HAND! A YOUNG MAN IN A MILK TRUCK OUT NEAR DUTCHMAN'S GRADE SAID OH MY GOD TWO TRAINS ONE TRACK THEN HE CLOSED HIS EYES AND HE PRAYED A SISTER FROM THE ORPHANS HOME MADE A CROSS UPON HER CHEST CAUSE A ONE IRON BEAST WAS COMING FROM THE EAST AND ANOTHER ONE WAS COMING FROM THE WEST THE BIRD FLEW FROM THE TREE TOPS AS THE IMPACT SHOOK THE GROUND THE SCREAMING WHEELS AND THE GRINDING STEEL COULD BE HEARD FOR MILES AROUND NOW EVERY JULY 9TH A FEW MILES WEST OF TOWN TO THIS DAY SOME FOLKS SAY YOU CAN HEAR THAT MOURNFUL SOUND