Lyr Req: I'm a Train (Albert Hammond, M Hazelwood)

Subject: 'I'm a train' childrens song lyric request
From:
Date: 18 Apr 99 - 02:32 AM

Whenever we see a train (which is often in anchorage) my better half begins to sing a song which he remembers from elementary school. I know that he can't possibly be singing it correctly - partly because he always gets lyrics wrong, and partly because it makes no sense.

He claims the song went : "I'm a train, I'm a track, I'm a chicka train"

I would love to know what this song really went like so when I berate and tease him I have some evidence behind me to back it up. He is unwilling to accept that the song probably went "i'm a train on a track". Having the whole lyrics would be great.

Anyone ever hear this song?? Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: 'I'm a train' childrens song lyric request
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 18 Apr 99 - 03:45 PM

The Kings Singers do a version of this on a kids recording they do. I never heard the song except from them!

Subject: RE: 'I'm a train' childrens song lyric request
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 12:05 PM

Judging from the way Albert Hammond sings this, I don't think it was intended to be a children's song. Allmusic.com has several sound samples by Albert Hammond and by The King's Singers, who, of course, do a very embellished version. I pieced together this much. I don't know if it's complete, and I don't even know if I got the verses in the right order:

I'M A TRAIN
(Albert Hammond, Mike Hazelwood)

VERSE: Look at me. I'm goin' somewhere.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.
Look at me. I'm goin' somewhere.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah, baby.

CHORUS: Hard day, yes, it has been a
Hard day. Yes, it has been a
Hard day, yes, it has.
I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train.
I'm a chicka-train. I'm a train.
I'm a chicka-train, chicka-train, yeah.

VERSE: When life gets long and hard, (?)
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.
Goin' down to the breaker's (brakeman's?) yard.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah, baby.

[Mudcatters please note that I've refreshed a very old thread.]

Subject: RE: 'I'm a train' childrens song lyric request
From: Mo the caller
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 03:16 AM

I remember that as a hit from 1968 (about April as I was living in the YWCA in Altringham at the time). I heard it as 'a choo-choo train' and 'look at me I'm going so fast', somewhere in there I thought I heard 'I'm a train inspector'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a Train (Albert Hammond, M Hazelwood)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 01:35 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3A_ccea_hJs

check this version. Nice.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a Train (Albert Hammond, M Hazelwood)
From: Surreysinger
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 07:12 PM

Having sung the Kings Singers arrangement in the last few years, I rushed for my copy of the score, which makes it clear that the words are

"I'm a CHOOKA train"
Surely more likely as that sounds far more like a train than CHICKA train ??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a Train (Albert Hammond, M Hazelwood)
From: GUEST,lyncent
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 11:08 PM

I remember hearing part of this when I was little. I believe it was in a Captain Kangaroo episode...they were talking about trains. I do recall "I'm a train train chicka train, I'm a chicka train, I'm a train train chicka train yeah."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a Train (Albert Hammond, M Hazelwood)
From: GUEST,Larry
Date: 08 Apr 10 - 01:36 PM

Was looking for a video of the old Captain Kangaroo clip and found this forum. This is what I remember too: "I'm a train train chicka train, I'm a chicka train, I'm a train train chicka train yeah."

If I was asked whether I heard 'CHOOKA' or 'CHICKA' - I for sure would answer 'CHICKA' ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a Train (Albert Hammond, M Hazelwood)
From: mousethief
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 12:40 AM

I always heard "chicken" (and wondered what the hell that could mean -- what's a chicken train?) so I'd vote for "chicka"

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M A TRAIN (Albert Hammond, M Hazelwood)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Apr 10 - 05:57 PM

There are several videos on YouTube of I'M A TRAIN being sung by Albert Hammond, or the King's Singers, or other a cappella vocal groups using the King's Singers' arrangement.

Here's the best one, I think: A video of a performance by Albert Hammond himself apparently in a TV studio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A_ccea_hJs. I was finally able to do a complete transcription:


I'M A TRAIN
Albert Hammond/Mike Hazelwood
As sung by Albert Hammond.

1. Look at me. I'm a train on a track.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.
Look at me. Got a load on my back.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.
Look at me. I'm goin' somewhere.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.
Look at me. I'm goin' somewhere.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.

CHORUS: Been a hard day, yes, it has.
Been a hard day, yes, it has
Been a hard day, yes, it has.
I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train. I'm a chicka-train.
I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, chicka-train, yeah.

2. Look at me. I'm a train on a line.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.
Look at me for the very last time.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.
It's been a life that's long and hard.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.
I'm goin' down to the breaker's yard.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah. CHORUS

[Instrumental break]

It's been a life that's long and hard.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.
I'm goin' down to the breaker's yard.
I'm a train. I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train, yeah.

LAST CHORUS: Been a hard day, yes, it has.
Been a hard day, yes, it has
Been a hard day, yes, it has.
I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train. I'm a chicka-train.
I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train. I'm a chicka-train.
I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train. I'm a chicka-train.
I'm a train. I'm a chicka-train.

I'm a train! I'm a train!
I'm a, I'm a, I'm a train!

[Recorded by Albert Hammond, The King's Singers, and a few others.]

Subject: I'm a Train (Albert Hammond, M Hazelwood)
From: GUEST,Andy Crews
Date: 24 Apr 14 - 03:57 PM

He probably remembers it from Captain Kangaroo, where I first heard it. I looked for it for years. I remember black and white film footage of steam trains with the music of Albert Hammond's "I'm A Train."

I thought I was crazy, because no one else remembered it, until I found the song a few years back.