Story Behind The Song
Story taken from historical facts about a train derailment in 1878 Vermont.
Song Description
Train wreck/disaster from 1878 in Vermont. 37 lives were lost.
| Song Length |
6:27 |
Genre |
Folk - Rock, Rock - Americana |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Worried, Restless |
Subject |
Engineer, Trains |
| Similar Artists |
The Grateful Dead, The Band |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1960 - 1969 |
| |
Lyrics
"E.H.Baker" was pullin' hard, 45 tons of steel
Charlie Pierce the engineer, at the drivin' wheel
Bitter cold in the White River town, this train is leaving late
Carnival up in Montreal, but all their tragic fate
Charlie stop the train, Charlie stop the train
Charlie stop the train, Charlie stop the train
Passengers in the sleeper cars, wooden coaches with their stoves
Kerosene in the lamps above, a winter morning no one knows
The porters did their job so well, a crew of 12 men strong
Conductors and the brakemen too, this train will move along
Charlie stop the train, Charlie stop the train
Charlie stop the train, Charlie stop the train
White River, please let me go
Will I get there, please let me know...
On the deck bridge trestles made of wood, frozen river down below
(The) last sleeper car came off the track, broken rail they didn't know
Four coaches pulled downward fell, burning flames reaching high
37 passengers in all, that mournful day did die.
Charlie stop the train, Charlie stop the train
Charlie stop the train, Charlie stop the train
All the fire did spread so fast, rescuers tried in vain
Dying screams and the desperate cries, soon the flames overcame
When the light of the next day broke, a Sunday after Hell
So many souls among the dead, remains you could not tell
Charlie stop the train, Charlie stop the train
Charlie stop the train, Charlie stop the train
White River, please let me go
Will I get there, please let me know...