Larry Penn-Taps For The Milwaukee Road

Larry Penn tells a funny story and performs his CMStP&P tribute song "Taps For the Milwaukee Road" at the Madison Gandy Dancer festival on August 12, 2007. Scattered throughout the video are photos of MILW relics and current operations of successor roads along former Milwaukee Road corridors.

You can cry if you like
when you learn of the news
You won't be alone
if it gives you the blues

It's still just as hard
to lose a lose a good friend
It don't matter but
Three score and ten

The end of the line
for a dream that was bold
The end of the line
for a dream that was cold

And what can ya play
for a ragged old soul
but Taps for the Milwaukee Road

Come bugle blow for the Milwaukee Road
A rusty old road, a crusty old road
Come bugle blow for a busted old road
For the Milwaukee Road, bugle blow

Remember the ways of an Indian brave
that has given his name to a passenger train
Going the way of the buffalo soon
A wampum of orange and maroon

Climb if you're brave on a stormy cascade
to see where she conquered a two percent grade
And hear how the wind on the bridges she made
cries for the Milwaukee Road

Come bugle blow for the Milwaukee Road
A rusty old road, a crusty old road
Come bugle blow for a busted old road
For the Milwaukee Road, bugle blow

Drink if you like to the railroad men
the lusty old men, Milwaukee Road men
And drink if you can in the taverns they used
to in the days of the Milwaukee Road

Oh, come bugle blow for the Milwaukee Road
A rusty old road, a crusty old road
Come bugle blow for a busted old road
For the Milwaukee Road, bugle blow

You can cry if you like
when you learn of the news
You won't be alone
if it gives you the blues

It's still just as hard
to lose a lose a good friend
It don't matter but
Three score and ten

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Larry
• Penn
• Chicago
• Milwaukee
• St
• Paul
• and
• Pacific
• Railroad
• MILW
• Madison
• Wisconsin

[SubZero37]

I was lucky enough to meet this man when he came in as a guest speaker for my Country Music History class at UWM. A great folk sound, with a hearty voice to match, and a great man.