Look Who it Was Random video

"The Old Railroad Grade" by Dore Coller

1,434 views · Published 14 November 2016 · 5:19 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: Gary Yost · 2016 · Film & Animation

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A celebration of the Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Woods Railway (full lyrics below)
Dore Coller, guitar & vocals
Dan Large, mandolin & vocals
Steve Kallai, fiddle and vocals
Gary Kaye, banjo
Larry Karlin, bass & vocals
written by Dore Coller and recorded at STR Studio L in Mill Valley
video by Gary Yost for the Mill Valley Historical Society (https://www.mvhistory.org)
special thanks to Debra Schwartz (and to Thomas Edison for the historical footage)

"THE OLD RAILROAD GRADE" ©2016 DORE COLLER
 
WAY OUT IN CALIFORNIA, JUST ABOVE THE GOLDEN GATE,
THERE USED TO BE A RAILROAD WITH THE BEST VIEW IN THE STATE,
FROM THE SNOW CAPPED PEAKS TO THE OCEAN, THE HORIZON DID UNFURL
ON THE CROOKEDEST LITTLE RAILROAD IN THE WORLD
 
HOP ON AT THE OLD MILL DEPOT, SWAYING AS SHE SWERVES,
STRAIGHT UP BLITHEDALE CANYON, AROUND THE HORSESHOE CURVE
WINDING THROUGH THE REDWOOD FOREST, YOU COULD SEE FROM NEAR TO FAR
AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD, YOU KNOW JUST WHERE YOU ARE
 
CHORUS:
RIDING ON THE MOUNTAIN, YOUR TROUBLES START TO FADE
FLYING THROUGH THE REDWOODS, ON THAT RAILROAD GRADE
 
CMON DARLING, WE GOT IT MADE IN THE SHADE
LET’S HEAD UP THE MOUNTAIN, ON THAT RAILROAD GRADE
 
YOU RUN UP THROUGH THE DOUBLE BOW KNOT, PARALLEL FIVE TIMES,
WHEN YOU GET TO THE WEST POINT INN, YOU CAN CHANGE TO TWO MORE LINES
THE OCEAN SPUR TO WILLOW CAMP, YOU CAN RUN OUT ON THE BEACH
ANY WAY YOU GO, A GOOD TIME’S WITHIN REACH
 
AT THE TOP WAS THE OLD TAM TAVERN, JUST BELOW EAST PEAK,
YOU COULD SNEAK UP FOR A QUICK ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK
HAVE A DRINK OR TWO AND ENJOY THE VIEW, DIDN’T HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR.
THEN COAST BACK DOWN IN THE GRAVITY CAR
 
CHORUS:
RIDING ON THE MOUNTAIN, YOUR TROUBLES START TO FADE
UP THROUGH THE REDWOODS, ON THAT RAILROAD GRADE
 
CMON DARLING, WE GOT IT MADE IN THE SHADE
LET’S HEAD UP THE MOUNTAIN, ON THAT RAILROAD GRADE
 
THE YEAR WAS 1900, ON A DAY THAT WAS PRETTY CLEAR,
THERE WAS A TERRIBLE TRAINWRECK THAT KILLED THE ENGINEER
IT WAS HALFWAY UP THE MOUNTAIN BEFORE MILEPOST #5
HE HIT THE BRAKES BUT HE DIDN’T COME OUT ALIVE
 
HIS NAME WAS ERNEST THOMAS, RUNNING ENGINE #2
SOME GREASE BUILT UP UPON THE TRACKS, THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.
THE ENGINE CRASHED WAY DOWN THE SLOPE, TWAS SUCH AN AWFUL SCENE
HE LOST HIS LIFE IN A BLAST OF STEAM
 
CHORUS:
RIDING ON THE MOUNTAIN, YOUR TROUBLES START TO FADE
UP THROUGH THE REDWOODS, ON THAT RAILROAD GRADE
 
CMON DARLING, WE GOT IT MADE IN THE SHADE
LET’S HEAD UP THE MOUNTAIN, ON THAT RAILROAD GRADE
 
NOW ALL THESE LONG YEARS LATER, WHEN SO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED,
THE RAILROAD IS A TRAIL ROAD, PEOPLE LOVING IT TO THE LAST
THERE’S HIKERS AND THERE’S BIKERS, STILL WANT TO SPEND THE DAY,
RIDING UP AND DOWN THE GOOD OLD RAILROAD GRADE.

 
VERSE: G C D G D G C F D G
CHORUS: C G D G

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