Life on the road

Subject: Life on the road
From: Tunesmith
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 02:38 PM

I've never seen any romance in living a "life on the road" like so many professional folksingers do.
I guess "Homeward Bound" is the most famous song to capture that experience.
And, that song begins..
       "Sitting on a railway staion, got a ticket for my destination"

Recently I've "discovered" Archie Fisher's marvelous album "Sunsets I've Galloped into.." , and on it is a wonderful "road song "Merry England". Here's how the song opens...
"Waiting on a station platform for a change of trains,
   Seems whenever I'm in Preston, that it always seems to rain"

Interstingly, the station in the Paul Simon song is now recognised universally as Widnes Staion which is only 40 miles or so from the Preston Station mentioned in Archie's song.

Can Mudcaters think of any other "life on the road" songs?

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 02:50 PM

The one & only:

The Manband - Life on the Road

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: Tunesmith
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 02:58 PM

Life on the road for the solo folk artist must be very different and that of a band.
BTW, I'm disappointed with The Man track. I've a friend who raves about them but on that edivence I'm not convinced.

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: Tunesmith
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 03:52 PM

The following sentence wasn't constructed well at all!

"I've never seen any romance in living a "life on the road" like so many professional folksingers do"

I certainly didn't mean to say that folk singers find "a life on the road" romantic.

I remember years ago when a well-known American folksinger played at at a local folkclub.
The folksinger was being given a bed for the night by a club member but when they arrived at the member's house there was a wild party in full swing.
The folksinger was rather tired and asked to be directed to his bed.
"It's there mate", said his host, pointing to a sofa that was covered with party makers

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 06:05 PM

nine miles from gundegai
Some blokes I know have stacks of luck no matter how they fall
But there was I lord luvva duck no blessed luck at all
I couldn't make a pot of tea nor get my trousers dry
And the dog shat in the tucker box nine miles from Gundagai

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 09:49 PM

Juneau's Buddy Tabor's 'The Highway Song' talks about it.

Pack up your suitcase, you're gone again...

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 02:42 AM

Andy Irvine, ' Never Tire Of The Road '

Dave H

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: Little Robyn
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 04:50 AM

Tom Paxton's Leaving London
Just listening to one of the tracks on youtube.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 04:54 AM

"Man of Honour" as ably rendered by Gastove.

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: doc.tom
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 05:18 AM

Pete Coe's "Rolling Down the Ryburn" says it all, realy.
TomB

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 05:28 AM

I'm disappointed with The Man track

Hardly surprising from one who favours the ghastly MOR schlock you refer you in the OP. The thread title just seemed too good an oportunity to miss really. Of course the subject matter of Man's Life on the Road isn't wistful folkies romantically musing on their oh-so tragic lot in life as they find themselves waiting in the rain for a train in Preston (the unrelenting horror of it all!) rather it's a celebration of genuine travellers & eccentrics living an alternative existence on the fringes of society. As such I guess it's the flip-side to MacColl's Go, Move, Shift (though less emotive in its intention) & chimes in with the centuries old societal antipathy most recently manifest in the events at Dale Farm. Take it from me, Life on the Road is a work of exceptional genius featuring some of the finest musical minds and musicians ever to walk this earth.

The other Man song that springs to mind in this context is Scotch Corner which records the occasion our heroes fetched up at the eponymous A1 service station during a crisis with their van & found themselves in conversation with a fellow traveller on his way to the Lake District to commit suicide. A perfect scenario for a song I'd say...

Maybe one day some day there will be a folkie equivalent of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels, a film which explores the reality of a touring rock 'n' roll band (touring can make you crazy) - or did John Shuttleworth already do that with 500 Bus Stops?

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: Tunesmith
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 06:59 AM

Man! Boringly obvious arrangement! Dodgy singing! Should I continue?

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: theleveller
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 07:53 AM

One of my all-time favourites is Justin Sullivan's Tales of the Road. Suibhne, listen out for the part about Ferrybridge cooling towers!

Tales of the Road

Subject: RE: Life on the road
From: Elmore
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 10:25 AM

Night Drive by Garnet Rogers