Justin Townes Earle

Ghost Of Virginia

Justin Townes Earle


Tom: D

capo 7 

G                                       C            G 
Well she comes out at night with the cold winds of December 
              C                                     G 
and when its quiet you hear her engines cry                                       
           G                           C               G 
She blows smoke at her wheels and her gears pound the steel 
        C         D            G 
as they carry her on down the line 

Now I'm sure you've heard stories as most of us have 
at the lunch counter and barber shop (not sure what he says here) 
She's the ghost of Virginia and from here up to Richmond 
She runs by the light of her (not sure what he says here either) 

Instrumental Break 

Well a few years back on the old Suffick Road 
where it crosses the abandoned rail line 
My grandpa claimed that he'd seen a freight train 
and it wasn't no sleek stream line 

She was cold black and steel and she screamed as she cut 
her way clear of the pines 
But he swears to this day he can feel the earth shake 
and smell her smoke when the winds just right 

Instrumental Break 

Yeah but back in her day she was a real working horse 
haulin coal for old man Warren 
She was tied up in ribbons and set out of Richmond 
haulin soldiers during the war 

Some say she wrecked and she rides these rails 
hopin one day she'll get it right 
Others say she romes out pickin up lost souls and 
carryin 'em down to Caroline 

Instrumental Break 

So if you're ever out on the old Suffick Road 
and see this strangest of sights 
She's the ghost of Virginia bound from Raliegh up to Richmond 
and you'd best stay out of her line 

Yeah you'd best stay out of her line