Wailing Mountain (v5.5)

[Intro; freight train idling low in fog, chain rattle left channel] Check… check check… check-check… (checkity-checka… choo choo…) Train rumblin bass Rollin for you Train rumblin bass Rollin for… you (get gone… move now…) [Verse 1: crow caw buried in static] Get off the track if don’t want through Ain’t seen nobody stoppin’ you (move move… damn…) Cow catcher snatch ya ass quick Your iron tooth got that nice sharp grip (snatch… real quick now…) [FX: metal rail clack used like snare accent] Send ya off to the left Way out yonder where the creek bed slept (way down… cold ground…) Steel remembers… (low now…) [FX: upright bass pluck layered beneath trunk-rattle 808] [Verse 2: crow caw buried in static] Jaw Harp Harold in the sleepcar Blowin rust through haunted hall Old smoke driftin from his fat cigar Why will this night refuse to fall (blow low… low now…) [FX: rusty harmonica through spring reverb] Ain’t it awful? Don’t it pull? Ain’t it lonesome? Ain’t it dull? (hmmmmm…) Harmonica mourning Harold blew Steel remembers… (low now…) [FX: distorted harmonica squeal trails into fog] I’m not dealin I just love (all them feelins… made of…) [FX: single bass note pulsing like rail joints] Sad still hurtin Happy sustain Love baby love me That's the only way (only way… only way…) [FX: chain gang hum rising low] Send a signal from the after (after this… after that…) What I do with the bastards? Follow you locked up after (lock step… lock jaw…) [Pre-Chorus: brush snare sweeping soft like passing rain] Sounds so good Wailing mountain Say it sweet Let it sour Steel remembers... [FX: gospel hum widens in stereo then collapses mono] This tree halfway down Branches laid all around (crackin slow… timber…) Seems to be a little sound Even if you don’t hear it comin down [FX: far-off train horn dopplering through fog] [Chorus: stomp-clap gang vocals in tunnel reverb] Boom boom bam bow (stomp stomp) Slam slam wham pow Don’t try deal it out Pressure find ya anyhow (anyhow… anyhow…) [FX: locomotive sub-bass swells beneath mono drums] Give it room Don’t crowd 'round Leave you six feet underground Steel remembers... [FX: chain drag across gravel] [FX: steam-release hi-hats chatter nervously] [Verse 3: midnight bugs buzzing around fluorescent depot lights] Try to list all your struggles (write em down… write em down…) Write em quick on the double [FX: cassette flutter momentarily bends pitch] Fold the paper lick the letters (kiss it once…) Kiss it once that make it better (maybe so… maybe not…) [FX: railroad crossing bell softly off-time] Whole town gathered round the thunder Boot heels knockin dust from under Lantern Lucy countin’ sparks Mountain preacher half drunk stutter "Lord don't save what love done smothered..." (amen… mmhmm…) [FX: harmonica and horror strings answering each other] [Breakdown: everything cuts except rail ambience and bass pulse] Train still rollin… (still rollin…) Even when the tracks gone cold (still cold…) Everybody got a number Everybody owe a toll Everybody hum together So the dark don't take the soul Jaw Harp Harold blowin low Like he always seem to know (blow low… don't stop…) [FX: gospel choir ghosts enter softly under distortion] Train rumblin bass Rollin for you Train rumblin bass Still rollin for you (get gone… move now…) [Final Chorus: gang stomp louder, clipping master slightly] Boom boom bam bow (choo choo… goddamn…) Slam slam wham pow Don’t let pressure pin you down Steel still sing beneath the ground Steel remembers... [FX: metal percussion avalanche building slowly] Leave some room Let grief breathe Everybody ride eventually (ride on… ride on…) [FX: harmonica screaming through blown speaker] [Outro: train passes fully by, rails humming afterward] Check… check… (checkity-checka…) You can still hear it if the dirt sit quiet (low and long…) Jaw Harp Harold still blowin Somewhere past the county line Steel remembers... [FX: distant harmonica swallowed by the passing locomotive] [FX: wind through telegraph wires]