Shoveling coal in a burning hole
Fifteen hundred degrees
Break your back pushing black gold
Fifteen hundred degrees
In a firebox coal train
In a firebox coal train
Switchman turn the train around
Up the mountain, faster down
Switchman turn the train around
Get it up to steam
Well a railway man can make amends
If he don't lose a limb
Yes a railway man can make amends
Until he gets to coughing
And if the car should slip the track
Engineer throw the bottle back
And if the bridge is lost to flood
Brakeman say your prayers now
Well a fireman love his train like a woman
Keep her burning all night long
Fireman love his train like a woman
Locomote that girl home
Well I'm shoveling coal in a burning hole
Fifteen hundred degrees lord
Break your back pushing black gold
Fifteen hundred degrees lord
In a firebox coal train
Firebox coal train
Firebox coal train
Firebox coal train
Firebox coal train