special streamline

Special Streamline 2: 54 Trk 14
Bukka White (Booker T. Washington White)
Bukka White - vocal & guitar
& Washboard Sam (Robert Brown) - wshbrd.
Recorded: March 7th & 8th 1940 Chicago, Illinois
Album: Parchman Farm Blues, Roots RTS 33055
Spoken:
Thats that fast Special Streamline
Leavin outta Memphis, Tennessee
Goin into New Orleans.
She runnin so fast the hobos dont
fool with this train. They stand on the
track with their hat in their hands.
I had a friend girl that mornin was
catchin that train.
She got up singin this song:
Sings:
Hey Dad, Im sorry to leave my home
Mm-mm-mm
Lord, Lord, Lord, Lordy
Spoken:
She heard that 8: 30 local blowin that
mornin. She hadnt rid the train in a good while.
She thought itd have that Special Streamline.
She heard at 8: 30 local when she is comin
to the line, declared up for that Streamline
Blowin like this:
(plays guitar w/wshbrd)
She said, Daddy, is that my train?
I say, I aint keepin up with the train time
Im tryin-a make a few dimes.
She dropped her head went to singin
an cryin:
Sings:
Its alright how you turn me down
Mm-mm-mm
I aint got a dime
Spoken:
After she called for a ticket
She heard this Special Streamline
going 36 miles from Memphis, Tennessee.
Make ya lonesome now
Cause I hobo myself, sometimes.
(plays guitar & w/wshbrd)
Man asks her, Where the other train?
She told him she didnt know
If she heard a bell she could tell him all about it.
As she dropped over that hill
And stopped off in the valley
She heard the bell begin to toll like this:
(plays guitar w/wshbrd)
Make a sound like a church bell toll.
Before she got to that ten mile tunnel
She blowed and throwd on the airbrakes.
(plays guitar & w/wshbrd)
Airbrakes!
When she got to that ten mile tunnel
She was gettin close
She was tippin cars on automatic switch
Gettin her water and coal on the fly
You could hear her when she was strikin
that double iron like this:
(plays guitar w/wshbrd)
When she run cross the last one
She squalled in.
(plays guitar w/wshbrd)
This girl looked out an seen that train
She commenced to singin an cryin.
Sings:
Hey, dad I dont wanna leave
Mm-mm
I believe Ill lose my mind
When that train got a little closer
down to New Orleans, she went around
that curve, you would hear her
when shes blowin like this:
(plays guitar w/wshbrd)
The peoples always standin at the station
Lyin there to see that train come in.
You would hear her when she squalls.
(plays guitar w/wshbrd - to end)
Spoken:
Boy, evrywhere but here
~