Texas Eagle

by Del McCoury

Delano Floyd McCoury (born February 1, 1939 in York, Pennsylvania) is an American bluegrass musician. As leader of the Del McCoury Band, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with his two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, who play mandolin and banjo respectively. In June 2010, he received…

Year: 1999

My Grandaddy was a railroad man 
When I was young he took me by the hand 
Dragged me to the station at the break of dawn 
Said "boy I got to show you somethin' 'fore it's gone" 
She was blue and silver, she was right on time 
We rode that Texas Eagle on the Mopac line 

We had some sandwiches that Granma packed 
We rode to Palestine and hitchhiked back 
Home in time for supper with a tale to tell 
That night I dreamed I heard that lonesome whistle wail 

When I got old enough to take the train alone 
I rode that Texas Eagle down to San Antone 

Nowadays they don't make no trains 
Just the piggyback freighters and them Amtrak things 
They shut the Eagle down awhile ago 
Sold it to the railroad down in Mexico 
But every now and then that whistle's on my mind 
I ride that Texas Eagle cross the borderline