Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car

Subject: Riding on a railroad car
From: Richard
Date: 26 Nov 97 - 05:40 PM

Looking for the words and music to this song that was being sung in the 1860s. Any ideas out there?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,TITLE is likely "Riding IN a Railroad Car"
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 12:19 AM

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:2UdB-QVj9UEJ:www.mudcat.org/thread_pf.cfm%3Fthreadid%3D62852+%22riding+in+a+railroad+car%22

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 06:46 PM

The sixth verse of an eight-verse song goes:

As I ride along in this freight car,
My dear mother's voice I can hear.
She's crying, "O son, do not leave me.
It's more than my poor heart can bear."

Could this be the song sought for? If so I have all the words and I can sing the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 06:54 PM

Joe, wouldf you please post the words?

Subject: Lyr Add: RIDIN' IN A RAILROAD KEER (W J Florence)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 12:25 AM

From the sheet music at The Levy Collection:


RIDIN' IN A RAILROAD KEER.
Written and composed by W. J. Florence
And sung by Mrs. W. J. Florence in the principal theatres of Europe & America
St. Louis: R. J. Compton, 1859.

1. Suke Sattinet was a comely gal, and loved her parents dear,
Till she met Sim Jim, the miller's son, a-ridin' in a railroad keer.
Slim Jim's dad's house was top of the hill. Suke Sattinet she lived near.
'Twas going to the mill she met Slim Jim, a-ridin' in a railroad keer.
Ridin' in a railroad keer,
'Twas going to the mill she met Slim Jim, ridin' in a railroad keer.

2. He winked at Sal, and she looked sly, then called her his duck and dear!
Says Jim: Will you have me? Says Suke: I will. – ridin' in a railroad keer.
But, as they neared the old man's house, Jim began to shake with fear,
And he lost all the courage he had before, ridin' in a railroad keer.
Ridin' in a railroad keer,
And he lost all the courage he had before, ridin' in a railroad keer.

3. When they got to the house, he took off his cap, then bowed and scraped so queer.
Says he: Your daughter promised to be mine, ridin' in a railroad keer.
The old man took his gun from the shelf. Says he: Slim Jim, just clear,
Or I'll blow you so high, you'll never come down, ridin' in a railroad keer.
Ridin' in a railroad keer,
Or I'll blow you so high, you'll never come down, ridin' in a railroad keer.


[The same song is also found in a song sheet (broadside) at The Library of Congress.]

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 07:54 AM

Reply to guest999.
-
I submitted the full words with other information 7.12.09.

As a complete beginner to computing {teaching myself} Can anyone tell me how to retrieve this message to re submit as it seems to have gone astray.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 01:59 AM

Hi, Joe-
I'm the one who usually finds such things, and I'm pretty good at it; but I couldn't find your 7.12.09 message. I think maybe it didn't "take" - that happens sometimes.
HOWEVER, I did find the complete song you were referring to - it was posted in 2006 under the name The Boy Who Could Never Come Home.

All the best to you.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,Joe.
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 05:19 AM

Joe Offer,
             the song you give {9.12.09} is the one I have.

    CHECK OUT A LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY SCOTS/CANADIAN SONG
    CALLED---"ALLAN McPHERSON"
   
    the last two verses [in reverse order] are the same in both
    @ there are similarities in the first two verses
    the other four verses are completely different

    Yours,
         Joe.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 04:35 PM

There's also this old jewel collected by a family friend:

Variant collected by Winfred (Wendy) L. Holt in 1930's
Originally by minstrel performer Sam Devere 1878

Riding on the Elevated Railroad

Riding on the elevated railroad –
I'll tell you all about it in my song;
I looked in all the second story windows
As the little train was moving right along;
Some were eating, some were drinking, some were sleeping,
Some were laughing, some did cry –
Some very funny sights I saw there,
And I took them in as I went by.

Chorus:

Riding on the elevated railroad –
It's pleasant and it just suits me;
If you take it day or night,
You'll say that I am right,
Some very funny sights you'll see.

In the first house I saw a woman washing,
While the steam was flying thick about her head;
In the next house I saw a little darling,
She was trying hard to make up the bed;
In the next house a woman was frying beefsteak;
She was a fighter for she had a wicked eye,
While her husband was singing to the baby,
"We'll be happy in the sweet by and by."

In the next house I saw a lively bull pup,
He was chasing a cat for life about the room;
In the next house a woman having a picnic,
She was trying to stab her husband with a broom;
In the next house I saw a lot of Dutchmen
Eating sauerkraut and drinking larger beer;
In the next house a fellow and his sweetheart,
He was doing his level best to chew her ear.

In the next house I saw an aged bachelor,
He was trying to sew his pants up with a nail;
In the next house I saw a little baby,
It was trying hard to bite a poodle's tail;
In the next house I saw a woman waiting
For her husband dear to come and get his tea –
But I saw him in the house upon the corner
With another fellow's wife upon his knee.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 02:25 PM

Joe Offer, That song, The boy who never came home, was popular with the old timers here in Ireland when I was a boy. The title of the song was different, I cannot re-call it now. I think Bud Billings sang it, I sent away to an English collector for the old single a few years ago and after searching around my home I have had no luck in finding it.
If i do come across it I will post the details.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 02:38 PM

Joe I just googled Bud Billings and Mudcat has already had a Thread on this song, The name of the song and also the Thread is `The Wanderers warning`, the singer was Bud Billings.
On the reverse side is another old favourite `Will the angels play there harps for me!.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 10:54 PM

WILL THE ANGELS PLAY THEIR HARPS FOR ME?
(D. White / Hirsch)

Josef Locke


I was passing by the churchyard in the city
and I saw a beggar old and grey.
With his hands outstretched he asked the folks for pity,
and it made me sad to hear him say:

Oh I wonder, yes I wonder, will the angels way up yonder
will the angels play their harps for me?
For my heart is growing dreary and my feet are growing weary.
Will the angels play their haprs for me?

Oh a million miles I've travelled, and a million sights I've seen
and I'm ready for the glory soon to be.
Oh I wonder, yes I wonder, will the angels way up yonder
will the angels play their harps for me?

Oh I wonder, yes I wonder, will the angels way up yonder
will the angels play their harps for me?

Oh my heart is growing dreary, and my feet are growing weary
will the angels play their harps for me?

Oh a million miles I've travelled, and a million sights I've seen
and I'm ready for the glory soon to be.
Oh I wonder yes, I wonder, will the angels way up yonder
will the angels play their harps for me?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 05:54 AM

__-   W ill The Angels Play Their Harps For Me? __

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,Joe.
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 08:07 AM

--Will The Angels Play Their Harps For Me?--
My late Father sang a slightly different version.

Verse I was passing by a churchyard in the city
one    when I saw a beggar old and grey
       with his arms outstretched he asked the folks for pity
       and it made me sad to hear him say
      -----------------------------------------------------------
       ch.
       -----
       Oh I wonder yes I wonder
       will the angels way up yonder
       will the angels play their harps for me

       For my heart is growing dreary
       and my feet are growing wearie
       will the angels play their harps for me.

       Oh a million miles I,ve travelled
       and a million sights I,ve seen
       and I,m ready for the glory soon to be

       Oh I wonder yes I wonder
       will the angels way up yonder
       will the angels play their harps for me.
      ------------------------------------------------------
verse   Will I ride up to the pearly gates in glory
2
       in a chariot of shining gold
       will I see the folks that went up there before me
       when I,m safetly gathered in the fold.
      --------------------------------------------------------
       repeat full chorus
    ----------------------------


         

                              when I saw a beggar old and grey
       with his arms outstretched he asked the folks for pity
       and it made me sad to hear him say.
      ---------------------------------------------------------------

             his arms outstretched he asked the folks for pity
   1

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:29 PM

Guest Joe, Those are the verses sung by Bud Billings, but please be sober the next time you type.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:38 PM

Get your ears around this one,

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:41 PM

Sorry Joe it`s the booze,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPBMfXvi_EU

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 06:44 PM

hello ard mhach.
                  in your last posting you give a no. to get to
   youtube when this no. is clicked it gets through to youtube but
   when I enter it in the search page it comes up as wrong
   Where am I going wrong?
   As you may have gathered I am a complete beginner on a computer
   {20 days}   
            Yours,
                Joe.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: ard mhacha
Date: 13 Dec 09 - 07:02 AM

Joe hit my blue clicky above and it will take you there.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,John Williamson Scotland.
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 05:09 PM

Hello Joe, This song, as you may know is called, " THE WANDERER'S WARNING" the other side, if i recall, was "Will ANGELS PLAY THEIR HARPS FOR ME" When i was a kid, my parents played this record, and to this day, i love the words to both. Unfortunately, i cannot get a copy, and i have tried. Lovely Song. By the way, i am 64 now, and never have forgot this record .
Take care.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: Gutcher
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 07:17 AM

Hello John,W.A.P.T.H.F.M.was a favourite of my Fathers & T.W.W.
    a great favourite of a good friend,recently deceased.
    If you want to hear W.A.P.T.H.F.M. go to the posting by ARD
    MHACHA above & click on the last line[in blue] 1.41pm.
    Yours, Joe.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Jan 10 - 04:50 PM

This is not really a good place to be posting lyrics of, or getting into long discussions of, THE WANDERER'S WARNING or WILL THE ANGELS PLAY THEIR HARPS FOR ME, since (1) the title of this thread is "Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car" and (2) there are already several other threads about these songs:

Lyr Req: The Wanderer's Warning (1)
Lyr Req: The Wanderer's Warning (2)
Lyr Req: The Wanderer's Warning (3)

Lyr Req: Will the Angels Play Their Harps for Me? (1)
Lyr Req: Will the Angels Play Their Harps for Me? (2)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: Gutcher
Date: 23 Jan 10 - 06:16 PM

Sorry Jim, I was just passing a few friendly comments to a
   complete stranger. I promise to read the newcomer,s guide [which
   I skipped] & to be a better bairnie in future.
   Joe.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Riding on a Railroad Car
From: GUEST,Arthur H. Miller
Date: 18 May 11 - 03:11 PM

Lake Forest College's library Special Collections has two items relating to this song, one relevant: a Dec. 8, 1859 copyright registration for "Ridin' in a Rail Road Car" "written and composed by W. J. Florence, New York, December 1st, 1859." This is issued by the Clerk of the Northern District of New York on a standard copyright form. On the verso of the form Florence appears to assign for one dollar "my right" etc., signed and dated "Nov. 24, 1860, St. Louis, Mo." This appears to relate to the St. Louis printed version on American Memory (Library of Congress site) of this song, and links the two titles: for copyright, "... Rail Road Car" and then the next year in St. Louis "... Railroad Keer."

We can supply scans of this document and also of a signed 5 x 7 portrait photo print, 1891. We welcome further information of any earlier New York printing, as well.

Thanks to all who supplied information here,

Arthur H. Miller
Archivist and Librarian
for Special Collections
Donnelley and Lee Library/LIT
Lake Forest College
555 N. Sheridan Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045-2396
847-735-5064 voice, -6296 fax
[e-mail]