Wreck of the Tennessee Gravy Train

DESCRIPTION: The people of Tennessee want to know who wrecked their "gravy train"; bonds were issued to build highways, now the money's tied up, the people have nothing to show for it, and the banks have gone bust.
AUTHOR: Uncle Dave Macon
EARLIEST DATE: 1926 (recording, Uncle Dave Macon)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Singer says the people of Tennessee want to know who wrecked their "gravy train"; in a major scandal, bonds were issued for $5 million to build highways, now the money's tied up, the people have nothing to show for it, and the banks have gone bust. A Dave Macon chorus: "And now we're up against it, and no use to raise a row/Of all the times I've ever seen, we're sure up against it now/The only thing that we can do is to do the best we can/Follow me, good people, I'm bound for the promised land"
KEYWORDS: crime theft political money
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Cohen-AmericanFolkSongsARegionalEncyclopedia1, p. 280, "Wreck of the Tennessee Gravy Train" (1 text)
RECORDINGS:
Uncle Dave Macon, "We Are Up Against It Now" (Vocalion 5009, 1926)
Uncle Dave Macon & Sam McGee, "Wreck of the Tennessee Gravy Train" (Okeh 45507, 1931; rec. 1930; on HardTimes2)
New Lost City Ramblers, "Wreck of the Tennessee Gravy Train" (on NLCR09)
NOTES [16 words]: This is the only old-time song I know about embezzlement, making it hard to assign keywords. - PJS
Last updated in version 2.7
File: RcWOTTGT

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