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The Ghost of the O&Q

from From the Railyard to the Woodyard by Ryan McCord

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about

The first time I rode a freight train
I rode it to Havelock in the rain
I waited by the station as it rumbled my way
On the ghost of the O&Q main

And I swung up the ladder on board
As the engineer pulled the whistle cord
Blowing for the crossings of the bridges and roads
In the darkness we headed towards

From the banks of the Otonabee
We rolled east on through East City
Riding the rails for the first time at last
Was freedom as free as can be

As we pulled out of town on that night
The moon shed a little dim light
On the farms and the fields and the ponds that we passed
And everything seemed to be right

We roared over rivers and streams
From what I remember it seems
The views from my ride through that dark countryside
Were like scenes that I’d seen in my dreams

When we pulled into Havelock at last
The engineer gave one more blast
Of his whistle to signal the end of my ride
But the die of a hobo was cast

I chased trains for seven more years
Crossed the country with thrills and with fears
Now the memories and truths that I learned in my youth
Those lessons still ring in my ears

When a whistle blows, then I go
Down to the tracks, where I know
Those memories roll

The first time I rode a freight train
I rode it to Havelock in the rain
I walked down to the station as it rumbled away
Down the ghost of the O&Q main

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from From the Railyard to the Woodyard, released December 21, 2020

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Ryan McCord Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

I live in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. I’m a window cleaner in my spare time. I learned to play guitar from sitting around the campfire with my friends. When I’m not playing music, I like riding my bike, canoeing, welding, and building castles out of snow and ice. ... more

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