Cat. #1240 (MFH #857) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on October 26, 1971
VERSE 1
A drunkard lay on th bar-room floor
He drank an' dranked till he couldn't drink no more
He went to sleep with a troublin' brain
An' dreamed he was on th hellbound train
VERSE 2
The fireman was a crazy tramp
On th headlight was a brimstone lamp
The tank was full of lager beer
An' th Devil, himself, was th engineer
VERSE 3
He blowed th whistle an' he rung th bell
The Devil said, boys, the next stop is Hell
All the passengers yelled with pain
And begged th Devil to stop th train
VERSE 4
But th Devil laughed at his mission
He hollered an' hollered an' yelled with glee
You have paid your fare, with th rest of th load
Now, you will ride to the end of th road
VERSE 5
You have robbed th weak an' wronged th poor
You have turned hungry fellers from your door
You have laid up gold till your purse will burst
You have hurt young girls with your beauty lust
VERSE 6
You have mocked at God with your stupid pride
You have wounded an' killed this an' died
You have double crossed an' you state, you belong to me
Now, body an' soul
VERSE 7
You have paid your fare at th Shamrock bar
I knew you we'll ride in th Devil's car
An' here one time when you know, lame
I'll carry you all, to th land of fame
VERSE 8
Your brains will burn in th flames that burn
You will scream an' scream an' mourn
Then th bar-room door rang with its scream fits
An' th drunkard woke from his fallen dream
VERSE 9
Down on his knees on th bar-room floor
He prayed as he never prayed before
An' his prayer was not in vain
An' he rode no more on th hellbound train