The Incident At Condra's Switch Lyrics - Wood, Wire & Words - Norman Blake

It happened on the railway, the NC and St "L", 

On the branch line up to Pikeville, this story I will tell. 

Postmaster on the Condra paid off his section gang, 

For he was the station agent down at Cedar Springs. 

Condra's switch was the flag stop on the NC and St "L" 

Just across the river with its rolling swells. 

A pickerage station for the line on the timetable to see, 

There between Jasper and Whitwell in sunny Tennessee. 

On the second day of January, 1925, 

Two gunmen tried to steal the pay taking Condra's life. 

While working at the General Store Mary Condra survived, 

And only by an act of faith was she left alive. 

Condra's switch was the flag stop on the NC and St "L" 

Just across the river with its rolling swells. 

A pickerage station for the line on the timetable to see, 

There between Jasper and Whitwell in sunny Tennessee. 

The section gang would work the line from Jasper to Whitwell, 

Were paid off early in the day so history does us tell 

One gunman he was jailed and hung, the other pulled a hitch, 

For killing all the Condra that night at Condra's Switch. 

Condra's switch was the flag stop on the NC and St "L" 

Just across the river with its rolling swells. 

A pickerage station for the line on the timetable to see, 

There between Jasper and Whitwell in sunny Tennessee.