Swannanoa Tunnel History

Asheville junction, Swannanoa tunnel

All caved in, baby, all caved in.

I’m goin’ back to that Swannanoa tunnel

That’s my home, baby, that’s my home.

When you hear that watch dog howling

Somebody round, baby, somebody round.

When you hear that hoot owl squalling

Somebody dying, baby, somebody dying.

Last December, I remember

The wind blowed cold, baby, the wind blowed cold.

The hammer falling from my shoulder

All day long, baby, all day long.

Ain’t no hammer in this mountain

Out rings mine, baby, out rings mine.

This old hammer, it rings like silver

it shines like gold, baby, it shines like gold.

Take this hammer and throw it in the river

It rings right on, baby, it shines right on.

I’m goin back to that Swannanoa Tunnel

That’s my home, baby, that’s my home. Instruction on how to play this song can be found in Wayne Erbsen’s book: Clawhammer Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus