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Short Line Rag

from Prowlin' Lobo Blues by Eric Allen

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about

Short Line Rag is about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in the late 1860s. Specifically, it refers to the race between the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad companies to see who could first reach Promontory Point, Utah, the designated location where tracks from the east and west would be joined. Short Line Rag's lyrics were written primarily about, and from the perspective of, an older, short-haul train that fears becoming obsolete.

lyrics

This old train, she a rollin' south
Chuggin' right along, but you better watch out
cause the Union and Central pickin' up the pace
This old train, she a rollin' south
Chuggin' right along, but you better watch out
cause the Transcontinental gonna run this old train away

This old train started haulin'
nigh around '54
Wounded souls, hosses, and hope
climbed aboard
Firin's stopped, rebuildin's started
now around '69
they ain't gon want her 'round no more

Well now this old train she's a black smoke mama
Got a fire in her belly
put up a
mighty fight
But they ain't gonna wanna hear this
short line runnin' lord
with that lonesome whine
callin' out all night

Way out in Promontory Point was a
heck of a sight
when the silver hammer drove the golden spike
Well that old man Crocker he done
won his bet
But that poor old train a cryin' a cryin' all night

Lord cryin' cryin' if I had me a
longer track
Could haul em' uphill lord
forward and back
Might not be so pretty, but I can
get the job done
Gotta find me a trunk line for a longer run.

Wish I could hook up with that
Kansas City line
She runs from way out east lord and she's
pretty close by
But that Mo-ssouri River ain't got no bridge
and they ain't no track over on the other side
Lord they ain't no track way over on the other side
Nah sir

This old train, she's a rollin' south
Chuggin' right along, but you better watch out
cause the Central Pacific layin' 10 miles a day
This old train, she's a rollin' south
Chuggin' right along, but you better watch out
cause the Transcontinental gonna run this old train away
Lord the Transcontinental gonna run this old train away now
Said the Overland Route gonna take this old train away

credits

from Prowlin' Lobo Blues, released February 2, 2023
Songwriter - Eric Allen.
Vocals, Guitar, Washboard - Eric Allen.

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Eric Allen Los Angeles, California

Eric Allen, originally from Indiana, is known for his authentic Americana, blues, country sound. Eric released his 2nd album, Prowlin' Lobo Blues, in Feb. 2023. Eric’s self-titled debut album released in Jan. 2021.
o www.facebook.com/ericallen40years/
o sptfy.com/EricAllen40Years
o www.youtube.com/@EricAllen40Years
o ericallenholyroller@yahoo.com ... more

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