Ode to  Pipeliner’s

Was in the city of Ogden Utah and I can remember it well.

Pipe liners gathered. To lay some pipe and I think they were spawned in hell.

Now Terrible Lou was running the Spread. With rough mountains he was undaunted.

The best he could get , was what he would need. Yes, champions was what he wanted.

He called Kansas Jack for the right of way, and he knew that jack would get it.

Jack brought (Bucket Mouth) and (fibber McGee) and a straw called Speedy Bennet.

They were right of way dozer hands, probably the best, I know the best I have seen

They could build a road over any darn hill and those Utah one’s were mean.

The ditch was next and it would be tough. Those rocky hills were truly a killer.

And I guess that the best was what he found. When he sent for Race Horse Miller.

Now Miller knew that those hills were steep. And scary for an operator.

He got (Dirty neck red) for the ditching machine. Red hailed from  El-Dorado

Bending pipe ? nearly every joint, that would  really be something to see

Can’t stop the pipe. So you have to be fast. Lou will send For (Ernie Fee)

Now Ernie came in with a boom hand in tow and they called him (Ratchet Red)

He could thread the eye of a needle with a joint of pipe. The best, is what Ernie said.

You need a good pipe man, to go with this bunch,  finding one don’t seem likely

But just loafing around down Texas way, Was a man called (Fort Worth Whitey)

Now Whitey brought a setting in hand, he had him for quite a spell.

They called him “Okie” And at running a boom, he really did very well

The Dope came next The Yellow smoke kind, and it was not an easy chore

(Easy Pickens) was running the show. and always wanted more

It was a dirty job. And let me tell you, That smoke was really mean

It is really a fact you would cough and hack, Leroy was running the dope machine.

Now lowering in is kind of dull. It’s not really much of a thriller

But heading it up was as good as could be found. Was a man named (Blackie Miller)

Now Blackie hailed from Texas way, I cannot remember the town

It’s not much to note. But in a 12 hour shift a lot of pipe went down

Well this all happened in 46 but I can still remember that worthy crew

The best there was to be found at that time. I have named them all for you.

Most of them are gone forever. And they most certainly are not to be found.

                     Most have went to see the pipe that they laid, you know it’s all underground

Wrote By Me And don’t you forget it.

Wanda