My maternal great-grandfather was an engineer on the old Memphis/Charleston Railroad Line. This song is based on stories my grandmother & uncles would tell about his train rolling into their hometown of Corinth, MS.
Lyrics
Grandpa was a railroad man, on the Memphis Charleston line Starched white shirt & bowler hat, he always was on time Gold watch in his pocket, dangled from a silver chain Grammy’s picture in the locket, kept him comp’ny on the train CHORUS: We’d all run down to meet him, when he was homeward bound He’d blow that whistle twice as the train came ‘round…the bend When he rolled in to the station, he always was on time For Grandpa was a railroad man, on the Memphis Charleston Line Grandpa was a railroad man, and he engineered the train He’d tip his hat, wink at me, and swing his walking cane A fat cigar in his teeth, I loved to see him smile And when he laughed you could hear it ring, for at least a country mile! CHORUS: BREAK CHORUS: