The Gallopin’ Goose – C.W. McCall – letras

(Chip Davis, Bill Fries)On a cold November mornin’Back in nineteen-thirty-sevenWith an early snow a-fallin’On the three-foot tracks at AmesCame a mighty strange contraptionKnown to trainmen as a motorBut to folks in ColoradoShe was known by another nameUp the canyons south of SawpitPast the red Cathedral spires’Cross the yellow mountain switchbacksAnd the rapids far belowOn the high and lofty trestlesNear the fabled mines of OphirIn the silver San Juan MountainsCame a goose a-plowin’ snow[Chorus]With a Pierce-Arrow engine,Runnin’ hot and on the looseCame the Rio Grande SouthernThe Gallopin’ GooseWith a Pierce-Arrow engineRunnin’ hot and on the looseCame Number Five, The Gallopin’ Goose’Twas a four-door auto-mobileOn a dozen wheels of ironSixteen feet of rockin’ boxcarSpot-welded to her tailLoaded down with mercantileTen bags a’ high-grade oreTwo mothers nursin’ babiesSeven miners an’ the mailUp the side a’ Sunshine MountainBy internal gas combustionEight Pierce-Arrow pistons pullin’Fifteen thousand pounds a’ leadAt the snowshed on the summitThe conductor said his prayersHe declared a busted driveshaftOn the pass at Lizard Head[Chorus]With a Pierce-Arrow engineRunnin’ hot and on the looseCame the Rio Grande SouthernThe Gallopin’ GooseWith a Pierce-Arrow engineRunnin’ hot and on the looseCame Number Five, The Gallopin’ Goose[Musical interlude here.]Down the three-percent to RicoIn the valley of DoloresThey still talk about the SouthernAn’ her flock of flyin’ geeseFrom the roundhouse at RidgwayTo the depot at DurangoAll the tracks are gone for scrap ironAnd the ganders rest in peaceUp the canyons south of SawpitPast the red Cathedral spires’Cross the yellow mountain switchbacksAnd the rapids far belowOn the high and lofty trestlesNear the fabled mines of OphirIn the silver San Juan MountainsThere’s a legend in the snow[Chorus]With a Pierce-Arrow engineRunnin’ hot and on the looseCame the Rio Grande SouthernThe Gallopin’ GooseWith a Pierce-Arrow engineRunnin’ hot and on the looseCame Number Five, The Gallopin’ Goose