Rolling River Line

country blues, boogie woogie, vintage acoustic

🎙️ The Story of the Lost Tapes: Country Blues 1940–1951

For decades, these recordings were scattered across the South — a reel in a barn loft in Alabama, an acetate found in a pawn shop in Shreveport, a dusty box discovered behind an old church in Tennessee. Each tape carried a name, sometimes just a first one, and the faint hum of a bygone world.

Most were recorded by Harlan “Doc” McCree, a roving radio engineer who, between 1940 and 1951, traveled with a portable Presto cutter, capturing front porch songs, juke joint nights, and backroad blues from men who’d never see a studio.

Over seventy years later, the reels were gathered by collectors and archivists who carefully cleaned, restored, and digitized the fragile sounds. What emerged was a rare portrait of country blues before electricity — warm, ragged, and deeply human.

Now, for the first time, these forgotten voices — Willie “Short Time” Parker, Eddie Mae Brooks, J.T. “Little Hammer” Collins, and others — are reunited in The Lost Tapes: Country Blues 1940–1951, a celebration of life, love, and Southern soul.

(Verse 1)
Got my bundle on my shoulder, guitar in my hand,
Leavin’ out of Memphis for that promised land,
The whistle moans easy, like a lonesome tune,
Train wheels singin’ ‘neath a rising moon.

(Chorus)
Rollin’ past the Mississippi River, wide and fine,
Bound for glory down the Rolling River Line,
Smoke stack shinin’ in that southern sun,
Keep on rollin’ till my ramblin’s done.

(Verse 2)
Saw a red clay woman at the Birmingham yard,
Said, “Honey, this travelin’ life is hard.”
I said, “Darlin’, don’t you cry for me,
This train’s my heart and it’s wild and free.”

(Chorus)
Rollin’ past the Mississippi River, wide and fine,
Bound for glory down the Rolling River Line,
Smoke stack shinin’ in that southern sun,
Keep on rollin’ till my ramblin’s done.

(Bridge)
Through Jackson, Mobile, and Shreveport town,
That steel rail rhythm keeps knockin’ me down,
Coffee in a tin cup, heart on time,
Beatin’ with the wheels on that rolling line.

(Verse 3)
Hit the depot in Nashville, just before dawn,
Band was playin’ low, and the crowd moved on,
I tipped my hat to the break of day,
Said, “Lord, let that Rolling River carry me away.”

(Final Chorus)
Rollin’ past the Mississippi River, wide and fine,
Bound for glory down the Rolling River Line,
From the Delta lowlands to the mountain pine,
Keep on rollin’ down that Rolling River Line.

(Tag)
Yeah, keep on rollin’...
Down that Rolling River Line.

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🎙️ The Story of the Lost Tapes: Country Blues 1940–1951 For decades, these recordings were scattered across the South — a reel in a barn loft in Alabama, an acetate found in a pawn shop in Shreveport, a dusty box discovered behind an old church in Tennessee. Each tape carried a name, sometimes just a first one, and the faint hum of a bygone world. Most were recorded by Harlan “Doc” McCree, a roving radio engineer who, between 1940 and 1951, traveled with a portable Presto cutter, capturing front porch songs, juke joint nights, and backroad blues from men who’d never see a studio. Over seventy years later, the reels were gathered by collectors and archivists who carefully cleaned, restored, and digitized the fragile sounds. What emerged was a rare portrait of country blues before electricity — warm, ragged, and deeply human. Now, for the first time, these forgotten voices — Willie “Short Time” Parker, Eddie Mae Brooks, J.T. “Little Hammer” Collins, and others — are reunited in The Lost Tapes: Country Blues 1940–1951, a celebration of life, love, and Southern soul. (Verse 1) Got my bundle on my shoulder, guitar in my hand, Leavin’ out of Memphis for that promised land, The whistle moans easy, like a lonesome tune, Train wheels singin’ ‘neath a rising moon. (Chorus) Rollin’ past the Mississippi River, wide and fine, Bound for glory down the Rolling River Line, Smoke stack shinin’ in that southern sun, Keep on rollin’ till my ramblin’s done. (Verse 2) Saw a red clay woman at the Birmingham yard, Said, “Honey, this travelin’ life is hard.” I said, “Darlin’, don’t you cry for me, This train’s my heart and it’s wild and free.” (Chorus) Rollin’ past the Mississippi River, wide and fine, Bound for glory down the Rolling River Line, Smoke stack shinin’ in that southern sun, Keep on rollin’ till my ramblin’s done. (Bridge) Through Jackson, Mobile, and Shreveport town, That steel rail rhythm keeps knockin’ me down, Coffee in a tin cup, heart on time, Beatin’ with the wheels on that rolling line. (Verse 3) Hit the depot in Nashville, just before dawn, Band was playin’ low, and the crowd moved on, I tipped my hat to the break of day, Said, “Lord, let that Rolling River carry me away.” (Final Chorus) Rollin’ past the Mississippi River, wide and fine, Bound for glory down the Rolling River Line, From the Delta lowlands to the mountain pine, Keep on rollin’ down that Rolling River Line. (Tag) Yeah, keep on rollin’... Down that Rolling River Line.

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