Merle Haggard – So Long Train Whistle (Guitar)

C              Em           F                   C
Daddy's been a railroad man since he was twenty-one,

F                   C                F             C
Two years apprenticeship, a brakeman on the Denver run,

C               Em              F            C
Thirty, he made fireman, thirty-five, an engineer,

F            C                      F            C    C
Now at sixty-five, he's reached the end of his career,

C                         Em  F                      C
Daddy said he's glad it's over, but he ain't fooling me,

F                            C       F                 C
  Last night I overheard him singing  this sad old melody.

C  Em          F           C
So long, train whistle, so long,

F       C
Hmm mmm hmm,

C             Em            F               C
This near generation has no need for you or I,

F                  C             F                  C
We both served the nation long before it learned to fly,

C                Em    F                    C
Nothing lasts forever, now it's our turn to die,

F                       C
Lord, hear that whistle cry.

C               Em            F                  C
Daddy's not the only one, the railroad lines are fired,

    F                C           F                 C
The New York Central Limited has long since been retired,

C                  Em            F           C
Chief is gone from Santa Fe, the SP Lark, as well,

F                      C                      F             C     C
How soon the rest will leave the rails? Lord, only time you tell,

  C                        Em
I know that you can't stop progress,

F                        C
 New things happen every day,

F                          C
 We're going to mourn that lonely whistle,

F                       C
 When it finally fades away.

C  Em          F           C
So long, train whistle, so long,

F       C
Hmm mmm hmm,

C             Em            F               C
This near generation has no need for you or I,

F                  C             F                  C
We both served the nation long before it learned to fly,

C                Em    F                    C
Nothing lasts forever, now it's our turn to die,

F                       C
Lord, hear that whistle cry.

C   Em  F   C
Hmm mmm hmm mmm,

F  C   F       C
   Hmm mmm hmm mmm,

C         Em  F         C
Hmm mm mm mmm hmm mm mm mmm,

F  C                 F    C
   Hear that whistle cry.

C   Em  F   C
Hmm mmm hmm mmm,

F  C   F       C
   Hmm mmm hmm mmm,