Lyr Req: Never Did Like That Train (M McLauchlan)

Subject: Lyr Req: Never Did Like That Train
From: GUEST,Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 02 May 09 - 07:47 PM

There seems to be a stunning lack of access to Murray McLauchlan's lyrics on the 'net. Anybody help with this one?

Here's what I have so far (Murray's diction isn't the clearest on the videos) - upper case are the words I'm certain I have wrong:


Never Did Like That Train
Murray McLauchlan

I remember those young and those restless years
Time would crawl instead of fly
I would lay awake alone in A WHISTLE-DROPPIN' TONE
As that night-time train rolled by

chorus:
I never did like that train
Never did like that train
I could not sleep till it was long gone away
No, I never did like that train

I remember MY REST WAS DEEP DOWN in my breast
When I heard that silent song
Said "Forget your family
Come along, come along, come along".

Well, maybe you felt that wanderlust
In the darkness at the edge of the day
I never forgot that night train's call
I remember like it was yesterday


Got a gig in an actual railway station coffee house next week, and I want to have this available for the inevitable moment when a freight pulls through the station! :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Never Did Like That Train
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 May 09 - 07:45 AM

There's a video at YouTube. I listened, but I had trouble with the same lines you did.

Here's a suggestion, still somewhat uncertain:

"I remember unrest was deep down in my breast"

Also, there is a half line missing after "Forget your family". It's something like "Common sense you're meant to keep" but that's doubtful too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Never Did Like That Train
From: Peace
Date: 04 May 09 - 07:13 PM

Whistle-droppin' tone is right--poetic reference to doppler effect, imo.

However, I couldn't make out 'unrest', although the rest of the line is aced. Unrest makes sense within the song's context.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Never Did Like That Train
From: Stewie
Date: 04 May 09 - 10:57 PM

The diction on the CD is just as bad.

I agree that it definitely sounds like 'whistle-droppin' tone'.

Stanza 1, line 2 begins with 'When' - 'When time ...'

Stanza 2, line 1: I agree with Jim except there is a 'the' before 'unrest' - 'I remember the unrest ...'

Stanza 2, line 3: 'Forget your family, promises you meant to keep'.


--Stewie.