Corky - On The Railroad

from Round 3, Week 1 by Monday Morning 3AM Music Club

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OK – WORK – Nothing says work more than a prison chain gang. Let me say that there’s not a racist bone in my body. I truly love all creatures on this earth. I hope no one will be offended. Art is a no-boundary way of portraying a feeling and or emotion. I can’t come close to imagining the suffering a chain gang goes through. And for these chain gangs, they wanted to sing…create music to help them pass the time of their thankless hard labor. I think a lot of people today can relate. I really could have used Mitchell’s voice on this one. I started this (as I often do) with no lyrics…just mumbling a phrase and melody. I left that first mumbling track in there thinking that in this story, maybe one of the guys was new to the chain gang and didn’t know the words yet but wanted to hum along anyway.

lyrics

On The Railroad

Come the mornin’
Come the sunrise
I’m a long way
From the day
On the railroad
By the river
I must work hard
To earn my pay

I earn my pay
I earn my pay
For the man now
I must pay
Though I’m aching
In my body
I must work hard
And do my time

Do my time, man
Do my time
They say I’m guilty
I’ll do my time
On the railroad
By the river
I am guilty
I’ll do my time

One day my Lord
One day my Lord
He will come and set me free
But for now, Lord
I’ll swing this hammer
This heavy hammer
Until I’m free

Until I’m free
Until I’m free
West Virginia
Won’t set me free
In the mountain
By the river
On the railroad
I can’t be free

Oh that Devil
Oh that Devil
You know that Devil
He’s waiting for me
But when I finally
Lay down my hammer
Lord please send that devil from me
Lord please send that Devil away from me

credits

from Round 3, Week 1, released September 8, 2014

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Monday Morning 3AM Music Club Winston Salem, North Carolina

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