[dcab-l] Rattlesnake Hill Cover: What a Ways We've Come

 

Songwriters & Music Lovers:

 

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: