
"WAIL OF THE COPPERAS COVE JAIL" Words and Music by: JOHN ROBERT MALLERNEE Sunday 12 January 1975 VERSE # 01: Born along Santa Fe tracks In a tent among Coal miner's shacks, He was the eighth hungry mouth In a family to feed. He roamed before he could walk And he sang before he could talk, With that combination To tell the World of his need. CHORUS: So, roll on Santa Fe Rail. Take me from Copperas Cove Jail. With an old used guitar In an empty boxcar, A hungry poor hobo can wail. VERSE # 02: His father consumed by his drink, He grew up On poverty's brink. By the time he was ten, His family had split far and wide. He wasn't wanted around. So, he followed That far away sound Of a Santa Fe train calling out To his dreams deep inside. VERSE # 03: He met his true love at sixteen, A red headed lass Named Maureen, The child of a prosperous Man of position in town. With no one around, They had fun 'Til he'd kiss her goodnight And then run To play his guitar In a sleazy saloon called, "Sundown". VERSE # 04: One day, her father caught him. His gun made His business look grim. He wanted the boy to leave town And never come back. In anger, the boy Pulled a knife And stabbed the man, Taking his life. He's lost everything And the future is sure looking black.
wail of the copperas cove jail
original composition
copperas cove
coryell county
fort hood
texas
mallernee
john robert mallernee
writesong
lyrics
sante fe railroad
old soldiers home
solo
guitar
music
original song
songwriter