Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson was an American guitarist, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. Watson's flatpicking skills and knowledge of traditional American music are highly regarded. He performed with his son Merle for over 15 years until Merle's death in 1985 in an accident on the family farm.
Eddy Merle Watson (February 8, 1949 - October 10, 1985) was an American guitarist and folk singer. Merle was widely recognized as one of the best flat-picking and slide guitarists of his generation.
Doc & Merle released a version of "Bottle of Wine" that reached #71 on the U.S. country chart.
The Wreck Of The Old #9
Doc & Merle Watson Lyrics
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Not a star was in sight
An' the north wind came
Howlin' down the line
With his sweetheart, so dear
Stood a brave engineer
With his orders to pull ole number nine
She kissed him goodbye
An' a joy in her heart
She couldn't hide
For the whole world was bright
When she told him that night
Tomorrow she'd be his blushin' bride
As the wheels hummed the song
As the train rolled along
An' the black smoke come pourin' from the stack
As the headlight a gleam
Seemed to brighten' his dream
For tomorrow he'd be comin' back
He speed up the hill
But his brave head was still
For the headlight was shining in his face
He whispered a prayer
As he threw on the air
For he knew it would be his final race
In the wreck he was found
Lying there on the ground
An' he ask them to raise his weary head
As his breath slowla went
This message he sent
To the maiden who thought that they'd be wed
Have a little white home
That I bought for our own
Where I'd dreamed we'd be happy, bye an' bye
But I leave it to you
For I know you'll be true
Till we meet at the Golden Gate, goodbye
The lyrics of "The Wreck Of The Old #9" by Doc & Merle Watson tell a poignant story of love, sacrifice, and tragedy. The song opens on a cold winter night, setting a somber and desolate tone. The singer, a brave engineer, stands with his sweetheart, filled with a mix of emotions as he prepares to pull old number nine. The imagery of the starless sky and howling north wind creates a sense of foreboding, hinting at the impending tragedy that will unfold.
The engineer's sweetheart kisses him goodbye with tears in his eyes but joy in her heart, knowing that they will soon be married. The contrast between the emotions of sorrow and anticipation adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the fleeting nature of happiness in the face of impending disaster. The sense of hope and promise for the future is palpable in this moment, emphasizing the fragility of life and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
As the train rolls along, the imagery of the wheels humming a song and the black smoke pouring from the stack creates a sense of movement and momentum, symbolizing the journey of life hurtling forward. The headlight gleaming and brightening his dream alludes to the engineer's optimism and hope for the future, despite the dangers that lie ahead. However, as he speeds up the hill, a sense of foreboding builds, hinting at the impending tragedy that will cut short his dreams and aspirations.
The tragic climax of the song comes with the engineer's final moments in the wreck, as he lies on the ground and sends a message to his beloved. His plea for her to cherish the little white home he had dreamed they would share serves as a poignant reminder of the dreams and plans that will now be left unfulfilled. The mention of meeting at the Golden Gate conveys a sense of hope and reunion beyond the earthly realm, offering a glimmer of solace amidst the tragedy and loss. Overall, the lyrics of "The Wreck Of The Old #9" paint a vivid and heartbreaking portrait of love, sacrifice, and the impermanence of life.
Line by Line Meaning
On a cold winter night
During a chilly winter evening
Not a star was in sight
No stars were visible in the sky
An' the north wind came
And the chilly north wind arrived
Howlin' down the line
Howling along the railroad track
With his sweetheart, so dear
With his beloved partner
Stood a brave engineer
Stood a courageous train operator
With his orders to pull ole number nine
With the task of pulling the old train number nine
She kissed him goodbye
She bid him farewell with a kiss
With tears in his eyes
Tears welling up in his eyes
An' a joy in her heart
Yet joy in her heart
She couldn't hide
She couldn't conceal
For the whole world was bright
Because everything seemed wonderful
When she told him that night
When she shared with him
Tomorrow she'd be his blushin' bride
The next day, she would be his blushing bride
As the wheels hummed the song
While the wheels hummed rhythmically
As the train rolled along
While the train continued on its journey
An' the black smoke come pourin' from the stack
And black smoke poured from the chimney
As the headlight a gleam
With the headlight shining
Seemed to brighten' his dream
Seemed to enhance his dreams
For tomorrow he'd be comin' back
Because he would return the next day
He speed up the hill
He accelerated up the slope
But his brave head was still
Yet he remained brave
For the headlight was shining in his face
Because the headlight illuminated his face
He whispered a prayer
He quietly uttered a prayer
As he threw on the air
As he cast it into the air
For he knew it would be his final race
Since he understood it would be his last journey
In the wreck he was found
In the aftermath, he was discovered
Lying there on the ground
Lying on the earth
An' he ask them to raise his weary head
And he requested them to lift his tired head
As his breath slowly went
While his breathing gradually faded
This message he sent
This message he conveyed
To the maiden who thought that they'd be wed
To the woman who believed they would be married
Have a little white home
Maintain a small white house
That I bought for our own
That I acquired for us
Where I'd dreamed we'd be happy, bye an' bye
Where I envisioned we'd be content in the future
But I leave it to you
However, I entrust it to you
For I know you'll be true
Because I know you'll remain faithful
Till we meet at the Golden Gate, goodbye
Until we reunite at the Golden Gate, farewell
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARSON ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@russmangus
I guess now we know why Roger Miller kept waiting for that engine engine number 9
@patriciajrs46
Good solid blugrass-- country. People who can sing. Nice.