Jackie Washington rode the rails
Way back in World War II
Playing his guitar in the sleeper car
To lullaby the lucky few
He worked the Canadian Pacific line
To satisfy his wandering bones
There weren't a lot of men that he couldn't call friend
Or places that he couldn't call home, good Lord
Places that he couldn't call home
Saying, "Mr. Conductor put the hammer down
I'm not gonna rest 'till I reach Hammer Town
I got a girl on the East Side and there's a band on the West Side
Playing blues and sentimental"
He never crossed over that American border
Though he lived just a few miles away
He said, "Everything I need I can find right here
North of the USA"
Guitar and piano and a thousand tunes
And his brothers just playing all night
Singing every song from the hit parade
And swinging by the steel mill light, good Lord
Swinging by the steel mill light
Saying, "Mr. Conductor put the hammer down
I'm not gonna rest 'till I reach Hammer Town
I got a girl on the East Side and there's a band on the West Side
Playing blues and sentimental"
Jackie Washington takes the stage
The same way that he's always been
Lighting up the aisles with a heavenly smile
And bringing everybody in
Jackie made '80 back in '99
Still he plays every show that he can
And there's a midnight train rolling somewhere tonight
And Jackie's strumming like a steel-driving man, good Lord
Strumming like a steel-driving man
Saying, "Mr. Conductor put the hammer down
I'm not gonna rest 'till I reach Hammer Town
I got a girl on the East Side and there's a band on the West Side
Playing blues and sentimental"
Hey, Jackie Washington
Long may your sweet song carry on
Everybody on the East Side and everybody on the West side
Everybody on the East Side and everybody on the West side
Loves the blues and sentimental
