Greenlight On The Southern - Tony Rice

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