By Bobby Braddock & Rafe Vanhoy
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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!
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ONE SULTRY SUMMER MORNING IN THE YEAR OF 1918
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THREE HUNDRED MEN WITH EBONY SKIN
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PULLED OUT OF UNION STATION
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HEADING OUT OF NASHVILLE FOR WESTERN TENNESSEE
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HOMEWARD BOUND CAUSE UNCLE SAM CLOSED DOWN
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THE MUNITIONS FACTORY.
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AT THAT VERY MOMENT ON THE CHEATHAM COUNTY LINE
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OLD NUMBER ONE TRAIN FROM MEMPHIS
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WAS RUNNING WAY BEHIND
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BACK IN THE SMOKEY CLUB CAR A MEMPHIS GAMBLING MAN
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SAID GENTLEMAN, IM FOLDING THESE CARDS
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CAUSE I DREW A DEAD MANS HAND!
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A YOUNG MAN IN A MILK TRUCK OUT NEAR DUTCHMAN'S GRADE
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SAID OH MY GOD TWO TRAINS ONE TRACK
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THEN HE CLOSED HIS EYES AND HE PRAYED
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A SISTER FROM THE ORPHANS HOME MADE A CROSS UPON HER CHEST
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CAUSE A ONE IRON BEAST WAS COMING FROM THE EAST
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AND ANOTHER ONE WAS COMING FROM THE WEST
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THE BIRD FLEW FROM THE TREE TOPS AS THE IMPACT SHOOK THE GROUND
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THE SCREAMING WHEELS AND THE GRINDING STEEL
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COULD BE HEARD FOR MILES AROUND
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NOW EVERY JULY 9TH A FEW MILES WEST OF TOWN
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TO THIS DAY SOME FOLKS SAY
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YOU CAN HEAR THAT MOURNFUL SOUND
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The Great Nashville Railroad Disaster
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David Allan Coe |