Description
Joshua Henry as Haywood Patterson in the 2010 Broadway musical "The Scottsboro Boys," score by Kander and Ebb. "Commencing in Chattanooga" (with John Cullum and company) and (at 3:23 ) "Go Back Home" (with Jeremy Gumbs). Lyrics below:
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Commencing in Chattanooga
Commencing in Chattanooga
On the Southern Railroad line
On the Southern Railroad line
SPOKEN:
Come on, Roy, grab on!
Where we goin' Andy?
Who cares? Just don't fall off!
SUNG:
I got up in the mornin' when my sleep was done
And I felt that cheery Chattanooga sun
And I thanked the lord above that I was still alive
As I waited for the 6:05
Commencing in Chattanooga
chugga chugga
chugga chugga
And it chugga chugga-ed in
and I said there you are
As I scrambled in the old box car
And I settled back believin'
that the world was fine
I was travelin' on the Southern line
Commencing in Chattanooga
chugga chugga
chugga chugga
On the Southern Railroad line
Now you can take your B&O
And you can take your Santa Fe
And you can take your old Rock Island line
And throw them all away
And if the Pennsylvania calls
Just say you want your money back
And if the New York Central's on the phone
Tell 'em they're way off the track
Commencing in Chattanooga
Commencing in Chattanooga
Commencing in Chattanooga
I said we're commencing in Chattanooga
On the Southern Railroad line
On the Southern Railroad line
INTERLOCUTOR (SPOKEN):
Thank ya, boys. Now one more time!
SUNG:
Now you can take your B&O
And you can take your Santa Fe
And you can take your old Rock Island line
And throw them all away
And if the Pennsylvania calls (Alright now!)
Just say you want your money back (YEAH!)
And if the New York Central's on the phone
Tell 'em they're way off the track
Commencing in Chattanooga...
HAYWOOD (SPOKEN):
Far away places, they're in my bones!
I know all the states.
Southeast to Georgia.
Down to Pensacola. North to Knoxville.
West to Arkansas.
And straight on to Shreveport.
I know the train schedules.
When the freights leave. When they arrive.
I can light a buck in the wind
on top of a movin' box car.
I am free! I am free! I am free!
SUNG:
There ain't a soul can hold me back
Cause I am just as free as air
As long as I got legs and train got wheels
I could arrive me anywhere
And if the lord above comes down
And asks you where the hell I am
Just answer no one knows where Haywood goes
Cause I'm a box car baby lamb
Commencing in Chattanooga
Commencing in Chattanooga
On the Southern Railroad line
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Lyin' all alone
I'm thinkin'
Starin' at the stars
I wonder
Since I been away
I'm lonely
When I'm gonna go back home
Walkin' through the world
Things happen
Right before ya eyes
Things happen
Soon enough you're lost
And thinkin'
When I'm gonna go back home
Oh me oh my
Time goes slow
Where's it gone to
I don't know
But maybe times'll turn
I pray so
Maybe some day I'll get lucky
Someone's gonna say
Alright son
Take the train and go back home
Hop a freight and go back home
SPOKEN:
Hop a freight?
I'd walk all the way back to Atlanta if I could.
I wouldn't stop til I got there.
No more nightmares.
Guards beatin' me. Teasin' me.
And I'd be home for my birthday too!
Now that would be some present.
SUNG:
Oh me oh my
Time goes slow
Where's it gone to
I don't know
But maybe times'll turn
I pray so
Maybe some day I'll get lucky
Someone's gonna say
Alright son
Take the train and go back home
Hop a freight and go back home