VOCAL BY VAUGHN MONROE AND CHORUS
ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS CONDUCTED BY GENE HAMMETT
IT WAS EARLY IN THE FALL,
AND A BLOWIN' UP A SQUALL.
FROM THE TRESTLE YOU COULD HEAR
THE WEIRDEST MOANS.
WITH A MIGHTY LONESOME CRY,
CAME A WHISTLE FROM THE SKY,
AND IT CHILLED THE VERY MARROW IN MY BONES.
THEN A LOUD RUSHING ROAR,
LIKE YOU NEVER HEARD BEFORE,
TURNED THE BLOOD TO ICY WATER IN MY VEINS.
AS I WATCHED WITH RISING FEAR,
SOMETHING STRANGE WAS DRAWING NEAR,
AND I SAW IN THE CLOUDS, GHOST TRAINS.
GHOST TRAINS! GHOST TRAINS!
WHAT A FEARFULL SIGHT,
THE CANNONBALL & NUMBER NINE WERE
RACING THROUGH THE NIGHT.
AS THEY PASSED ME BY,
I HEARD THE ENGINEER CRY,
"GIVE 'ER COAL, GIVE 'ER COAL,
SHOVEL' IT ON."
YOU COULD SEE THE FIREMAN GRINNIN'
FROM THE ENGINE THAT WAS WINNIN',
BUT I KNEW BEFORE THE FINISH,
THEY'D BE GONE.
YOU COULD SEE THE DRIVERS ROLL,
AS THEY SHOVELLED ON THE COAL,
AND THE BLACK SMOKE
CAME POURIN' FROM THE STACK.
AS THEY THUNDERED THROUGH THE SKY,
I AM HERE TO TESTIFY,
YOU COULD HEAR THE WHEELS
A CLICKIN' ON THE TRACKS,
THROUGH THE SMOKE AND THE STEAM,
YOU COULD SEE THE HEADLIGHTS GLEAM.
NOW I HAVE NO PROOF, BUT STILL THE FACT REMAINS,
YOU MAY DOUBT IT BUT I SWEAR,
THERE WERE CINDERS IN MY HAIR,
WHEN I SAW IN THOSE CLOUDS, GHOST TRAINS.
GHOST TRAINS! GHOST TRAINS!
WHAT A FEARFUL SIGHT,
THE CANNONBALL AND NUMBER NINE
WERE RACING THROUGH THE NIGHT.
AS THEY PASSED ME BY,
I HEARD THE ENGINEER CRY,
"GIVE 'ER COAL, GIVE 'ER COAL,
SHOVEL IT ON."
YOU COULD SEE THE FIREMAN GRINNIN'
ON THE ENGINE THAT WAS WINNIN',
BUT I KNEW BEFORE THE FINISH
THEY'D BE GONE.
GHOST TRAINS! GHOST TRAINS!
GHOST TRAINS! GHOST TRAINS!
GHOST TRAINS!