Swannanoa Tunnel History

Singing Rails (book) by Wayne Erbsen

Swannanoa Tunnel

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
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