Lyr Req/Add: Southbound/Pullman Passenger Train

Subject: Pullman Passenger Train
From: GUEST,Jonathan Hewlett
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 02:22 PM

Does anyone have lyrics to the song "Pullman Passenger Train," by Pullman Porters Quartet?

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Pullman Passenger Train
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 03:14 PM

I don't find a listing for it in Cohen's Long Steel Rail, but it's on the Rounder CD, Train 45: Railroad Songs of the Early 1900's. I haven't time to do a by-ear transcription now, but here's what's in the CD booklet:

southwest Missouri and then Arkansas.
No one seems to know anything about the Pullman Porters Quartette; whether they were really Pullman train porters is conjectural. But this 1927 (made in-Chicago) a cappella rendition of PULLMAN PASSENGER TRAIN has such lively turn-of-the-century barbershop harmony that we can excuse any deceptive use of pseudonyms.
Today's train travelers, with their short stub-like tickets need to be reminded that half a century ago or more, a ticket consisted of consecutive portions corresponding to the segments of the actual travel; thus, the longer one's trip, the longer one's ticket. "Jack," in the last stanza, refers to a locomotive.

I did get one line in a search:

"I'm gonna buy me a ticket long as my right arm."

Transcription coming later, unless somebody beats me to it. There's a download available here (click).
I'm familiar with a different barbershop version of the song that went:

"I'm gonna ride that train,
That southbound passenger train…"

I think the Limeliters recorded it. Another search came up wiht another possible title: "All Out for Birmingham."

-Joe-

Subject: ADD: Pullman Passenger Train
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 05:55 PM

Pullman Passenger Train
(as recorded by the Pullman Porters Quartette, 1927)

I'm gonna ride that train,
That Pullman passenger train
I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm
I'm gonna ride that train, babe, all night long
Gonna ride, gonna ride that train,
I mean that Pullman passenger train,
[unintellible - "to you, to you, be on me ride"???]
All aboard for Missouri Town.
[repeat this verse]

I got a letter from my girlfriend,
From Missouri Town
I got a date with my girlfriend, (that I love)
From Missouri Town
She looks so neat, she talks so sweet,
And when she walks she'll take you off your feet.
That is my girlfriend (red hot)
From Missouri Town

I'm gonna ride that train,
That Pullman passenger train
I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm
I'm gonna ride that train, babe, all night long
Gonna ride, gonna ride that train,
I mean that Pullman passenger train,
[unintellible]
All aboard for Missouri Town.

That [jag], that [jag]
That Southbound Limited [jag]
First thing you do, you put the shovel in the coal,
And put your head out the window, see the driver roll.
That [jag], that [jag]
That Southbound Limited [jag]
mmmm, mmmmmm
All aboard for Missouri Town.

I'm gonna ride that train,
That Pullman passenger train
I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm
I'm gonna ride that train, babe, all night long
Gonna ride, gonna ride that train,
I mean that Pullman passenger train,
[unintellible]
All aboard for Missouri Town.


Transcribed by ear from the Rounder CD, Train 45

---

Please help with the uncertain parts!!

-Joe-

Subject: ADD: Southbound Passenger Train
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 06:19 PM

Well, maybe it was Doc Watson, later recorded by the Limeliters.....

Southbound Passenger Train
(as recorded by Doc Watson and Frosty Morn, copyright 1976 & 2002)

I'm gonna ride, I mean,
That southbound passenger train
I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm
I'm gonna ride that train, baby, all night long
I'm gonna ride, I mean,
That southbound passenger train
Until I hear that old conductor say,
All out for Birmingham.

I got a letter from my doll babe,
(That live) in Birmingham;
She's the cutest little doll babe,
Way down in Birmingham;
Well, she's so sweet, and she's so neat,
And when she walk, she knock-a you off-a your feet.
She is some mama (red hot)
From Birmingham.

I'm gonna ride, I mean,
On that southbound passenger train
I hear the engineer say, "Put your shovel in the coal,
Put your head out the window, watch the drivers roll."
I'm gonna ride, I mean,
That southbound passenger train,
Until I hear that old conductor say,
All out for Birmingham.

Now when I hear that whistle blow, (whoo-oo)
It's a music to my ears;
And when I'm with my doll babe,
I don't shed no lonesome tears.
Well, she's so sweet, and she's so neat,
And when she walk, she knock-a you off your feet.
She is some mama (red hot)
From Birmingham.

I'm gonna ride, I mean,
That southbound passenger train
I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm
I'm gonna ride that train, baby, all night long
I'm gonna ride, I mean,
That southbound passenger train
Until I hear that old conductor say,
All out for Birmingham.



Transcribed by ear from the Doc Watson Songs from Home CD

---

I'm almost 100 percent certain of these lyrics. Can't say the same for "Pullman Passenger Train."

By the way, the two Limeliters recordings credit the song as traditional, arranged by Doc Watson.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Southbound/Pullman Passenger Train
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 05:45 AM

Stoneman Family recorded Southbound Passenger Train on a 78rpm record - We had a copy in The Library of The Aden Forces Broadcasting Association when I was doing a Folk Music programme there in 1967 .

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Southbound/Pullman Passenger Train
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 05:53 AM

Got a guess on a recording date, Leadfingers? - before or after the 1927 recording by the Pullman Porters Quartette?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Southbound/Pullman Passenger Train
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 10:24 AM

I would say After Joe - Probably late forties or early fifties