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Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads

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JERRY, GO ILE THAT CAR (p. 112) Come all ye railroad section men an' listen to my song, It is of Larry O'Sullivan who now is dead and gone. For twinty years a section boss, he niver hired a tar— Oh, it's "j'int ahead and cinter back, An' Jerry, go ile that car!" For twinty years a section boss, he niver hired a tar, But it's "j'int ahead an cinter back, An' Jerry, go ile that car-r-r!" For twinty years a section boss, he worked upon the track, And be it to his cred-i-it he niver had a wrack. For he kept every j'int right up to the p'int wid the tap of the tampin-bar-r-r; And while the byes was a-swimmin' up the ties, It's "Jerry, wud yez ile that car-r-r!" God rest ye, Larry O'Sullivan, to me ye were kind and good; Ye always made the section men go out and chop me wood; An' fetch me wather from the well an' chop me kindlin' fine; And (p. 113) any man that wouldn't lind a hand, 'twas Larry give him his Time. And ivery Sunday morni-i-ing unto the gang he'd say: "Me byes, prepare—yez be aware the ould lady goes to church the day. Now, I want ivery man to pump the best he can, for the distance it is far-r-r; An' we have to get in ahead of number tin— So, Jerry, go an' ile that car-r-r!" 'Twas in November in the winter time and the ground all covered wid snow, "Come put the hand-car-r-r on the track an' over the section go!" Wid his big soger coat buttoned up to his t'roat, all weathers he would dare— An' it's "Paddy Mack, will yez walk the track, An' Jerry, go an' ile that car-r-r!" "Give my respects to the roadmas-ther," poor Larry he did cry, "An lave me up that I may see the ould hand-car before I die. Come, j'int ahead an' cinter back, An' Jerry, go an' ile that car-r-r!" Then lay the spike maul upon his chist, the gauge, and the ould claw-bar-r-r, And while the byes do be fillin' up his grave, "Oh, Jerry, go an' ile that car-r-r!" <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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