John Kander — Commencing in Chattanooga

Commencing in Chattanooga Commencing in Chattanooga Commencing in Chattanooga On the Southern Railroad line On the Southern Railroad line Spoken: Come on, Roy, grab on! Where we goin' Andy? Who cares? Just don't fall off! Sung: I got up in the mornin' when my sleep was done And I felt that cheery Chattanooga sun And I thanked the lord above I was still alive As I waited for the 6:05 Commencing in Chattanooga Chugga chugga Chugga chugga And it chugga chugga-ed in and I said there you are As I scrambled in the old box car And I settled back believin' that the world was fine I was travelin' on the Southern line And if the Pennsylvania calls Just say you want your money back And if the New York Central's on the phone Tell 'em they're way off track Commencing in Chattanooga Commencing in Chattanooga Commencing in Chattanooga I said we're commencing in Chattanooga On the Southern Railroad line On the Southern Railroad line Spoken: Thank ya, boys. Now one more time! Sung: Now you can take your B&O And you can take your Santa Fe And you can take your old Rock Island line And throw them all away And if the Pennsylvania calls Just say you want your money back And if the New York Central's on the phone Tell 'em they're way off track Commencing in Chattanooga... Spoken: Far away places, they're in my bones! I know all the states Southeast to Georgia. Down to Pensacola. North to Knoxville West to Arkansas. And straight on to Shreveport I know the train schedules. When the freights leave. When they arrive I can light a buck in the wind on top of a movin' box car I am free! I am free! I am free! Sung: There ain't a soul can hold me back Cause I am just as free as air As long as I got legs and train got wheels I could arrive me anywhere And if the lord above comes down And asks you where the hell I am Just answer no one knows where Haywood goes Cause I'm a box car baby lamb Commencing in Chattanooga Commencing in Chattanooga On the Southern Railroad line Spoken: Why's this train slowin' down Andy? This train ain't supposed to stop til Memphis We a long way from Memphis