Don't Take My Caroline Away

Finalist, 2004 MOVA Songwriting Competition.

In the morning, the train is come to town
At the station everyone's going down
See the smoke and hear that whistle blow
Caroline's all packed up to go
On the track stands young John Sinclair
Like a stone, he's just standing there
Waves a flag and stops the 8:09
Gonna stop that train from taking Caroline

That was all that the boy could do
That was all that the boy could say
That was all that the boy could do
He said, please don't take my Caroline away

Papa Grainger said that she must leave
No good reason for the child to grieve
They're both young, there's time enough to mend
And Caroline'll be better of by then
John Sinclair takes six shotgun shells
Each one blows a train man straight to hell
Love or death, his only thought in mind
Love or lose his darling Caroline

Sheriff's men, met John out at the track
John Sinclair, he won’t be walking back
Papa Grainger took his daughter home
She sits there, crying all alone
May be that boy was raised no good
Might be he was misunderstood
This time, he surely crossed the line
Lost it all for his darling Caroline