The Great Nashville Railroad Disaster Lyrics - David Allan Coe

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