First Train Heading South Song Lyrics and Chords by Johnny Horton
First Train Heading South
Written and recorded by Johnny Horton
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
I didn't know my baby loved me so
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
Until that letter come to let me
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
know
Now
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
I pack my bags and then I'll
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
go
And
G7
G#7
A7
A#7
B7
C7
C#7
D7
D#7
E7
F7
F#7
catch the first train I see heading
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
south
If I got this letter in Idaho
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
Where snow's so deep it wouldn't let me
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
go
I'd
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
went hog wild and melted all that
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
snow
And
G7
G#7
A7
A#7
B7
C7
C#7
D7
D#7
E7
F7
F#7
caught the first train I saw heading
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
south
If I got this letter in Iowa
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
Nothing in this world could make me
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
stay
I'd
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
grab my hat and then been on my
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
way
And
G7
G#7
A7
A#7
B7
C7
C#7
D7
D#7
E7
F7
F#7
caught the first train I saw heading
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
south
repeat #1
If I'd got this letter in Ohio
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
With a busted back two arms and broken
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
toe
There'd
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
be no hesitation I would
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
go
And
G7
G#7
A7
A#7
B7
C7
C#7
D7
D#7
E7
F7
F#7
catch the first train I saw heading
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
south
But I got this letter up in Maine
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
You can bet your bottom dollar I feel the
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
same
Ever
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
C
C#
D
D#
E
y clickety clack of drivers call her
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
name
As I
G7
G#7
A7
A#7
B7
C7
C#7
D7
D#7
E7
F7
F#7
ride this first train I caught heading
C
C#
D
D#
E
F
F#
G
G#
A
A#
B
south
repeat #1
FAQ
Who sang the the song First Train Heading South?
- The song First Train Heading South was sang by Johnny Horton.
Who is Johnny Horton?
- John LaGale Horton (April 30, 1925 - November 5, 1960) was an American country music, honky tonk and rockabilly singer and musician, during the 1950s and early 1960s, best known for his saga songs that became international hits beginning with the 1959 single "The Battle of New Orleans", which was awarded the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. The song was awarded the Grammy Hall of Fame Award and in 2001 ranked No. 333 of the Recording Industry Association of America's "Songs of the Century". His first No. 1 country song was in 1959, "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)".
Horton's music usually encompassed folk ballads based on American historic themes and legend. He had two successes in 1960 with both "Sink the Bismarck" and "North to Alaska," the latter utilized over the opening credits to the John Wayne film of the same name. Horton died in November 1960 at the peak of his fame in a traffic collision, less than two years after his breakthrough. Horton is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
