Written for my grandfather. William Shannon, who was a locomotive engineer in the early 1900's..

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A song I wrote about my grandfather, William H Shannon, who was a railroad engineer in the early 1900's in Southern West Virginia..

I came up with the clever title, "Grandaddy Was A Railroad Engineer".. Performed at Jamland 1/08 * Dorothy Sherman: vocals, flute; Christina Gebert: vocals; Davy Shannon: guitar vocals; Jimi Spicer: bass, banjo; Lori benscoter: vocals..

GRANDADDY WAS A RAILROAD ENGINEER

Grandaddy was a railroad engineer He drove on the New River Line

Back in the days when steam engines ruled - He’d get the train to Thurmond on time

Clickety clack, clickety clack on down the track Grandaddy let that whistle blow

In the tunnels and out again at the place they call Big Bend .. Roll Grandaddy Roll!

He’d haul coal from Hinton and Kaymoor down to the Kanawha Valley towns

When passengers would be his fare to Gauley Bridge and Westward bound

Down the mountain then up a grade - pull that throttle back - Firebox some more coal

Smoke rising from the stack in the West Virginia sky - Roll Grandaddy roll!

We’ve been told that’s an era bygone with mostly pictures to be found

But sometimes at night - they say listen close - you can hear Granddaddy’s whistle outbound

Clickety clak, clickety clak on down the track - Grandaddy let that whistle blow
In the tunnels and out again at the place they call Big Bend.. Roll Grandaddy roll!

Roll Grandaddy roll!

Roll Grandaddy roll!


©copyright 2008; words and music by davy shannon