Swinging The South Bound Freight Doug Walker

Some people seem to have lots of bad luck. I wrote this about one of them. Doug Walker was kind enough to put the words to music. I put his song together with some moving pictures of trains to add to the atmosphere.


Swinging the South Bound Freight


My darlin’ said goodbye to me
In summer of sixty three
My darlin’ said goodbye to me
The long hot summer of sixty three

She said goodbye in the morning
She caught the train at three

By five I was wholly hammered
And my fifth of Beam was done
By five I was wholly hammered
And my fifth of Beam was done

It was either ending as a drunkard
Or stealing a ride on the evening run

With nary a goodbye to anyone
I swung the south bound freight
With nary a goodbye to anyone
I swung the south bound freight

Good or bad my new life begun
As I rode that cattle car down state

West from the St. Louie yard
I rode the old Santa Fe line
West from the St. Louie yard
I rode the old Santa Fe line

Sneaking by the old train guards
Sleeping under the Ruidoso pines

Out in California without a nickel
And seeing no prospect to improve
Out in California without a nickel
And seeing no prospect to improve

I rode north on the Oregon Special
Missing my lady I kept on the move

Hitching a ride on the old Union Pacific
Rumbling east in the fall of sixty eight
Hitching a ride on the old Union Pacific
Rumbling east in the fall of sixty eight

My poor old heart a-aching and homesick
I was traveling east on that old cold freight

With a strong wind and six inches of snow
I blew into town looking like an old hobo
With a strong wind and six inches of snow
I blew into town looking like an old hobo

She answered my friend’s door a child in tow
Her wedding ring shining in the morning glow


By five I was wholly hammered
And my fifth of Beam was done
By five I was wholly hammered
And my fifth of Beam was done

It was either ending as a drunkard
Or stealing a ride on the evening run

Copyright 2011 Wayne Nolen. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Haulin’ Shine Doug Walker

Haulin’ Shine Doug Walker


I have always liked songs and movies about car chases, running moonshine and the like. I wrote Haulin’ Shine just for the fun of it. Doug Walker did a great job putting the words to music. I added some moving images to give folks something to watch while listening to his fine presentation of the words.


Haulin’ Shine

Haulin’ Shine in my Daddy’s Ford
Haulin’ Shine in my Daddy’s Ford
The lawman a-chasiin’ me down forty-nine
The jar’s in the trunk a ringin’ hard
Tryin’ to keep on the road a-doin’ ninety-nine

Daddy handed me the keys a-sayin’
Keep er’ on the road and keep from swayin’
And I was running to the car fast and OKun’
Jumpin’ in his old Ford V8 and him a-stayin’

I drove the V8 over to Malcolm Peers
To drink a little paps blue ribbon beer
And to eye his kid sister and play stud card
Under the willow tree in Mal’s back yard

Mal’s uncle shows up about noon
Tells Malcolm hey I got a job for you
Mal says I just can’t go Uncle Laruu
My cars in the shed with a piston blew

Haulin’ Shine in my Daddy’s Ford
The law a-chasiin’ me down forty-nine
The jar’s in the trunk a ringin’ hard
Tryin’ to keep on the road a-doin’ ninety-nine

Laruu looks at me and says heh kid
How bout haulin’ a few jars over to Madrid
And make yourself little quick loot
And take home yourself a jar to boot

Well I started out down old forty-nine
A-keepin’ her at the limit and between the lines
And a-keepin’ a watch out for Mr. Policeman
And listen’ to George Jones on the AM band

Well you know I had just turned sixteen
I was on the straights just the other sida’ Galeen
So I just could not resist opening her up
Specially since the Ford was just tuned-up

Haulin’ Shine in my Daddy’s Ford
The law a-chasiin’ me down forty-nine
The jar’s in the trunk a ringin’ hard
Tryin’ to keep on the road a-doin’ ninety-nine

Well from out of the blue a cop pulls out
Lays two strips down on the asphalt
I see his lights a-flashen’ in my rearview
So I push a little harder as he pursues

The sharp bend at Dobb’s Creeks a comin’
I can’t slow down cause’ that cops a hummin’
I look up ahead the curves lookin’ mean
But I don’t slow down with my Dad’s machine

I hit the curve a- doin’ a hundred and four
And I feel myself squish up against the door
All four Goodyear tires are a-screamin’
And I just get the feeling I must be dreamin’

Haulin’ Shine in my Daddy’s Ford
The law a-chasiin’ me down forty-nine
The jar’s in the trunk a ringin’ hard
Tryin’ to keep on the road a-doin’ ninety-nine

The old V8 Ford sounds like it’s gonna’ blow
And I can smell the engine loosin’ its glycol
The Ford topples and does a three-sixty roll
And lands on its wheels in the field below

As I spin grass across the alfalfa green
I see the cop shakin’ his fist a-lookin’ mean
But he can’t follow cause he’s lookin’ down
A steep bank he just can’t drive round

Haulin’ Shine in my Daddy’s Ford
The law a-chasiin’ me down forty-nine
The jar’s in the trunk a ringin’ hard
Tryin’ to keep on the road a-doin’ ninety-nine

Haulin’ Shine in my Daddy’s Ford
The law a-chasiin’ me down forty-nine
The jar’s in the trunk a ringin’ hard
Tryin’ to keep on the road a-doin’ ninety-nine

Copyright 2011 Wayne Nolen. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.