the jupiter is gleamin’ . . shinin’ in the sun
everybody ready for the great cross country run
tell me have you heard the story goin’ down the wire
. . goin’ down the line?!
she’s ready to be goin’ . . breathin’ smoke & steam
she edges on the iron & the crowd begins to scream
tell me have you heard the story of the jupiter
. . & the 119?
they fire off the cannons . . she blows a whistle blast
goes flyin’ ‘round the corner movin’ strong & movin’ fast
tell me have you heard the story goin’ down the wire
. . goin’ down the line?!
the jupiter is on the run
headin’ for the setting sun
& when she rests the east & west are tied
& off from california . . from the sacramento yard
the 119 is movin’ . . pushin’ strong & pushin’ hard
she’s through the snowy mountains . . took ‘em right in stride
crested the sierra & went down the other side
tell me have you heard the story goin’ down the wire
goin’ down the line
tell me have you heard the story of the jupiter
. . & the 119?
ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh, ooh, ooh
across the grassed horizon . . across the giant plain
across a thousand miles of iron roars the mighty U.P. train
she tops the sherman summit . . a mighty feat of man
sails through echo canyon & across the dale creek span!
tell me have you heard the story goin’ down the wire . . ?
going down the line!?
and through the fiery desert . . the 119 has run
through the devil’s gorge . . beneath the blazin’ fiery sun
through tunnels & through canyons cleared by shovel & by pick
10,000 men who blasted, clawed & hawled with muscles thick
tell me have you heard the story of the jupiter & the 119?
the jupiter is on the run
headin’ for the setting sun
& when she rests the east & west are tied
ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh, ooh, ooh
they’ve met in promontory . . from the east & west they’re here
& all across the country they’ve raised a mighty cheer
the mighty trains are polished . . on the tracks they proudly rest
the crowd’s all gathered ‘round ‘em dressed up in their sunday best
a big brass band is playin’ . . it’s a bright uncloudy day
the speaker’s oratory . . & the bosses have their say
the reverend says a prayer . . it’s mercifully short
the drunken railmen laugh & the iron horses snort
the engines move in closer. . they ease in down the line
the champagne bottles pop . . so fill yer glass it’s toastin’ time!
the engines ease for meetin’ . . nose to nose alike
they raise the silver hammer & they nail the golden spike!
tell me have you heard the story goin’ down the wire
. . goin down the line!?
tell me have you heard the story of the jupiter
& the 119
tell me have you heard the story of the jupiter
& the 119
ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh, ooh, ooh