Here is a Rattlesnake Hill version of an original song by Philadelphian songwriter Fred Moore:
What a Ways We’ve Come. This version, featuring Ed’s solo vocal and guitar, was recorded
before the excellent version done later by The Gibson Brothers.
What a Ways We’ve Come is a wonderful story of a family through 5 generations! The singer
recounts being with his Grandpa on the tracks of the C&O Railroad, crying from the roar of
locomotives and being comforted by his Grandpa. Later in the story, this same singer is now
the Grandpa himself, revisiting the C&O with his own grandchild, but with no more locomotives
rushing by, and no tears from his grandchild. Now, grass grows between the railroad ties and
the rails are rusted red, illustrating how life and times change. Add up these generations,
yielding 5!
Special thanks to Fred Moore for creating this wonderful song.
To listen, click: http://rattlesnakehill.org/Web_Music/edsmusic.html
Ed
What a Ways We've Come Ab
Fred Moore
When I was a young lad
My old grandad would take me out on the C&O
When a locomotive on a fast freight exploded by
He'd hold me up 'n yell "Boy, there she goes!"
Big wheels turnin', side rods churnin'
Moanin' whistle always made me cry!
Grandad'd hold me tight 'n when the train pulled out'a sight
He'd wrap me in his arms 'n dry my eyes
And Oh! That reminds me of the time
When the railroad used to run....(Yodel)
Down along the mountainside......(Yodel)
And Oh! Those silver rails are rusted red
And the railroad's almost dead...(Yodel)
What a way we've come!
Summer's we'd go fishin'
Cross the tracks 'n cross the ditchin'
To the Manatawney where the rainbow run
Sittin' there a'waitin' countin' cars on all the freight
Grandaddy knew where every car come from.
He'd ridden every train from the Santa Fe to Maine
Told a tale for every summer day
Then the year that I turned ten I'd found that I'd lost my best friend
My old grandaddy passed away....
Chorus:
Last year my daughter had a little baby
They named him after his grandad
Yesterday the two of us went down to see where I grew up
The visit left me feelin' kinda sad.
There's no traffic on the C&O, didn't hear a whistle blow
Grass a'growin' through the old crossties.
Little one was wide awake but never got to see a freight...
Grandaddy wasn't there to dry my eyes!
Chorus:
