When You See the Smoke Coming

original 1940s country blues, acoustic, vintage, analog, mono, one acoustic guitar, no other instruments, original 1940s afroamerican country blues singer in the style of Big Bill Broonzy

🎙️ 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)
Well when you see the smoke comin’ down the line,
You know old Boyd’s rollin’ right on time,
Got that engine hummin’, bell swingin’ free,
And every lady waitin’ where he’s bound to be.

(Chorus)
When you see the smoke comin’, better lock your door,
Boyd’s been gone, but he’s back once more,
He runs that train both day and night,
And he keeps on rollin’ till the feelin’s right.

(Verse 2)
Got a pocket watch tickin’ by his chest so neat,
But the time he loves best ain’t on no sheet,
‘Cause when that whistle moans through the southern air,
You can bet there’s a sweetheart waitin’ there.

(Chorus)
When you see the smoke comin’, better fix your hair,
Boyd’s on the track, and he’s almost there,
He runs on steam and a little desire,
He’ll stoke that fire till the wheels catch fire.

(Bridge)
He’s got a schedule — Lord, he keeps it tight,
But he always finds love ‘fore the end of night,
Ain’t no delay when he’s pullin’ in,
That Railroad man’s got a devilish grin.

(Verse 3)
From Jackson town to New Orleans,
He’s known by name and he keeps it clean,
But when the moon shines down and the lights turn low,
Old Jesse Boyd puts on a show.

(Final Chorus)
When you see the smoke comin’, honey don’t be shy,
Boyd’s blowin’ through ‘neath that southern sky,
He’s a Railroad man, and he sure don’t lie —
He’ll keep your heart a-rumblin’ till the morning light.

(Tag)
Yeah, when you see that smoke, and you hear that sound,
You know Jesse Boyd’s back in town.

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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) Well when you see the smoke comin’ down the line, You know old Boyd’s rollin’ right on time, Got that engine hummin’, bell swingin’ free, And every lady waitin’ where he’s bound to be. (Chorus) When you see the smoke comin’, better lock your door, Boyd’s been gone, but he’s back once more, He runs that train both day and night, And he keeps on rollin’ till the feelin’s right. (Verse 2) Got a pocket watch tickin’ by his chest so neat, But the time he loves best ain’t on no sheet, ‘Cause when that whistle moans through the southern air, You can bet there’s a sweetheart waitin’ there. (Chorus) When you see the smoke comin’, better fix your hair, Boyd’s on the track, and he’s almost there, He runs on steam and a little desire, He’ll stoke that fire till the wheels catch fire. (Bridge) He’s got a schedule — Lord, he keeps it tight, But he always finds love ‘fore the end of night, Ain’t no delay when he’s pullin’ in, That Railroad man’s got a devilish grin. (Verse 3) From Jackson town to New Orleans, He’s known by name and he keeps it clean, But when the moon shines down and the lights turn low, Old Jesse Boyd puts on a show. (Final Chorus) When you see the smoke comin’, honey don’t be shy, Boyd’s blowin’ through ‘neath that southern sky, He’s a Railroad man, and he sure don’t lie — He’ll keep your heart a-rumblin’ till the morning light. (Tag) Yeah, when you see that smoke, and you hear that sound, You know Jesse Boyd’s back in town.

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