The Panama Limited

It's this old soul, you know
Time she left Chicago, you know
Old soul taken down with the flu, you know
When she's taken down with the flu, you know
The Tax Master and the Chief come 'round that morning
They're going to put out, you know
When they got there the old soul was gettin' up, you know
Singin' and cryin', you know

I ain't got nobody take me to this train
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm

I know you ain't, old soul, I feel sorry for her
After while, you know, she seen the tender gonna put out
She reached and got her two little grandchildren, you know
And she got up on the street, you know
The water begin to settle in old soul's eyes
She commenced to cryin' and then singin', you know

Fare you well if I don't see you no more
Mmm, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord

Then old soul, you know, went on down to the Union Station, you know
She asked the depot man what time it was
She heard 8:30 freight blowin'
But she was gon' catch that fast Panama Limited, you know
She kinda blowed a little diff'rent, though

After she heard this freight, you know
She asked the man again what time it was
He told her go lay her head on the rail line
And she hear that rail poppin', train time wasn't long
Old soul stooped down, she heard the rail poppin', you know
And she got up singin', you know

I'm a motherless child, I'm a long way from my home
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm

Don't moan it so loud, Aunt Haggie

So when old soul, you know
Began to moan, you know
She heard this here train comin' in there holl'in, you know
After the holl'in, you know, she heard the bell blowin'
After the bell blowin' she heard her when she cut down

Air brake

When Aunt Haggie heard it, you know
Heard the train cut down, you know
The old soul got happy, you know
She commenced to singin', you know

The train I ride, it don't burn no coal
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm