Hank Snow - The Last Ride lyrics

Recorded by Hank Snow Words and music by Halcomb & Daffan [C] In the Dodge City yards of the Sante Fe Stood a freight made up for the [G7] east And the engineer with his oil and waste Was groomin' the great iron [C] beast; While ten cars back in the murky dust A box-[C7] car door swung [F] wide And a [G7] hobo lifted his pal aboard To start on his last, long [C] ride; A [F] lantern swung and the freight pulled out The engine it gathered [C] speed The [F] engineer pulled the throttle wide And [D7] clucked to his fiery [G7] steed; [C] Ten cars back in the empty box The hobo rolled a [G7] pill The flare of the match showed his partners' face Stark white and d**hly [C] still; As the train wheels clicked on the couplin' joints A [C7] song for the ramblers' [F] ears The [G7] hobo talked to the still, white form His pal for many a [C] year; [SPOKEN] [C] For a mighty long time we've rambled, Jack With the luck of men that [F] roam With [G7] the back door steps for a dining room And the boxcar for a [C] home; We dodged the bulls on the eastern route And the cops on the Chesapeake We travelled the Leadville Narrow Gauge In the days of Cripple Creek; We drifted down through sunny Cal On the rails of the old S. P. And of all you had, through good and bad A half always belonged to me; You made me promise to you, Jack If I lived and you cashed in To take you back to the old churchyard And bury you there with your kin; You seemed to know I would keep my word For you said that I was wise Well, I'm keepin my promise to you, pal 'Cause I'm takin' you home tonight; I hadn't the money to send you there So I'm takin' you back on the 'fly' It's the decent way for a Bo to go Home to the by and by; I knew that fever had you, Jack And that doctor just wouldn't come He was too busy treatin' the wealthy folks To doctor a worn out bum; [SUNG] [C] As the train rolled over it's ribbon of steel Straight through to the east it [G7] sped The engineer in his high cab seat Keep his eyes on the rails a-[C] head; While ten cars back in the empty box The lone-[C7] ly hobo [F] sighed For the [G7] days of old and his pal so cold Was taking his last long [C] ride.