Long before the days of television, or even the popularity of the Carter Family or the Grand Ole Opry on radio, Dark Corner families entertained themselves with ballads of various human experiences.

Being simple, unsophisticated folk, they sang tales of toil, trouble and tribulationconditions and circumstances with which they were intimately acquainted.

Many of the ballads told of experiences while traveling on trains.

The Saluda Grade railroad through Landrum and Tryon on the Corners eastern border, the Swamp Rabbit route from Greenville to Jones Gap on its western border and the east-west routes of the Norfolk-Southern Railway and the Piedmont-Northern Electric Railway running through Greenville, Greer and Spartanburg below its southern border, were familiar to the mountain people.

Perhaps the favorite train ballad was A Lightning Express Train. Here are the lyrics:

A Lightning Express Train

A lightning express train, from the depot so grand,

Had started on its way;

And everybody on board this train

Seemed to be happy and gay.

All except a young boy on a seat by himself,

Reading a letter he had;

By the tears and sad look in his eyes,

The conductor passed his side.

I have no ticket, the young boy explained,

But Ill pay you back someday.

Ill put you off at the next station.

When they stopped, he heard the boy say:

Oh, please, Mr. Conductor,

Dont put me off of your train,

For the dearest friend I have in this world

Is waiting for me in pain.

Expecting to die any moment,

She may not last through the day;

I want to kiss mama goodbye, sir,

Before God takes her away.

A kind, young lady was sitting beside,

Dont put the boy off, its a shame.

She took his hat, collection she made,

And paid the boys way on the train.

Oh, thank you, kind lady, for your kindness to me,

And welcome you need not care.

Every time the conductor would pass through the car,

These words would ring in his ear:

Oh, please, Mr. Conductor,

Dont put me off of your train,

For the dearest friend I have in this world

Is waiting for me in pain.

Expecting to die any moment,

She may not last through the day;

I want to kiss mama goodbye, sir,

Before God takes her away.