Lyrics Greenlight On The Southern - Tony Rice

Greenlight On The Southern

Standing on the sidetrack at the south end of town
On a dry, hot, dusty August day the steam pipe pouring down
The fireman with his long oil can oiling the old valve gears
Waiting for the fast mail train to semaphore to clear
The engineer in the old high cab, his gold watch in his hand
Looking at the water glass and letting down the sand
Rolling out on the old main line taking up the slack
Gone today so they say but tomorrow he’ll be back
Oh, if I could return to those boyhood days of mine
And the greenlight on the southern, southern railroad line
Creeping down the rusty rails of the weed grown branch line
The section houses gray and white by the yard limit sign
The hoggers call the old high ball, no more time to wait
Rolling down to Birmingham with a ten car load for freight
Oh, if I could return to those boyhood days of mine
And the greenlight on the southern, southern railroad line
The whistle scream with a hiss of steam, the headlight gleams clear
The drivers roll on the green and go getting mighty near
Handing up the orders to the engine crew on time
It’s the Alabama great southern AGS railroad line
Oh, if I could return to those boyhood days of mine
And that greenlight on the southern, southern railroad line
Oh, if I could return to those boyhood days of mine
And that greenlight on the southern, southern railroad line