Commencing In Chattanooga Lyrics – Brandon Victor Dixon & The Scottsboro Boys

Commencing In Chattanooga Text

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Clarence
Commencing in chattanooga

Boys
Commencing in chattanooga

Clarence
On the southern railroad line

Boys
On the southern railroad line

Andy
Come on roy! Grab on!

Roy
Where are we going, andy?

Andy
Who cares! Just don't fall off!

All
Whoo whoo-oo
Whoo whoo-oo

Haywood
I got up in the morning when my sleep was done
And i felt that cheery chattanooga sun
Then i thanked the lord above that i was still alive
And i waited for the "six-o-five"

All
Commencing in chattanooga

Haywood
And it chugga-chugga'd in and i said there you are
As i scrambled in the old box car
Then i settled back believin'
That the world was fine
I was travelin' on the southern line

All
Commencing in chattanooga
On the southern railroad line

Haywood
Now you can take your b and o
And you can take your santa fe
And you can take your old rock island line

All
And throw them all away

Haywood
And if the pennsylvania calls
Just say you want your money back
And if the new york central's on the phone

All
Tell 'em they're way off the track
Commencing in chattanooga
(commencing in chattanooga)
Commencing in chattanooga
On the southern railroad line
On the southern railroad line

Interlocutor
Thank you boys. Now, one more time!

Haywood, olen, ozie and clarence
Now you can take your b and o

Haywood, charlie, andy and eugene
And you can take your santa fe

Haywood, roy, ozie and willie
And you can take your old rock island line

All
And throw them all away

Olen
And if the pennsylvania calls

Roy
Just say you want your money back

Andy
And if the new york central's on the phone

Olen, roy and andy
Tell 'em they're way off the track

All
Commencing in chattanooga
Commencing in chattanooga
On the southern railroad line
On the southern railroad line

Haywood
Far away places! They are in my bones! I know all the states! Southeast to georgia. Down to pensacola. North to knoxville.
West to arkansas. And straight on to shreveport. I know the train schedules. When the freights leave. When they arrive. I can
Light a butt in the wind on top of a moving boxcar! I am free! I am free! I am free!

There ain't a soul can hol' me back
'cause i am just as free as air
As long as i got legs
And trains got wheels
I could arrive me anywhere
And if the lord above comes down
And asks you where the hell i am
Just answer, "no one knows
Where haywood goes"
'cause i'm a box car baby lamb

All
Commencing in chattanooga
Commencing in chattanooga
On the southern railroad line

Roy
Why's this train slowing down andy?

Andy
This train ain't supposed to stop 'til memphis.

Roy
We're a long way from memphis.

[thanks to garrett for lyrics]