Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train (Jimmie Rodgers)

Subject: Lyr Add: WAITING FOR A TRAIN (Jimmie Rodgers)
From: Metchosin
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 04:48 AM

This song appears in the forum search here and here but doesn't appear to be in the DT. This version includes Autry's dialogue.


WAITING FOR A TRAIN
(Jimmie Rodgers)
As recorded by Gene Autry, 1929. (Velvet Tone 7057-V)

(spoken) Oh lordy, I left dear old 'Frisco for my home down in Dixie land, but here I am, all stranded, down by the Rio Grande. I'm lookin' for a handout now, as I go on my weary way, the stars are my only blanket, I do my travelin' by day.

All around the water tank
A-waiting for a train
A thousand miles away from home
And sleeping in the rain
I walked up to a brakeman
To give him a line o' talk
He says if you got money
I'll see that you don't walk
I haven't got a nickle
Not a penny can I show
Get off, get off, you railroad bum
He slammed the boxcar do'.

Yodel lay hee ho, delay hee hay, olay hee

(spoken) If that ol' brakeman only knew how bad that I wanted to get back home to my mama, he'd never 'a' throwed me off that train. Now I guess I'm goin' to have to take this ol' guitar o' mine an' get out here and play and sing a song, to get me a little ol' bowl o' chili.

He put me off in Texas
A state I dearly love
The wide-open spaces all around me
The moon and stars up above
Don't nobody seem to want me
Or lend me a helping hand
I'm on my way from 'Frisco
I'm goin' back to Dixie land.
Though my pocketbook is empty,
And my heart is full of pain,
I'm a thousand miles away from home
Just a-waiting for a train.

Yodel lay hee ho, delay hee hay, delay hee
Odelayhee olayhee olayhee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: bob schwarer
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 09:14 AM

Also have a nice version by Montana Slim.

Bob S.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: Metchosin
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 01:45 PM

My father would "roll over in his grave" to know that I had posted Gene Autry lyrics. He was absolutely contemptuous of the man. His favorite comment was that Autry was "wet".

When Autry's films became popular on kids TV in the 50's, I was his biggest fan and my Dad's acerbic comments increased. Having worked on real ranches with real "cowboys" in the B.C. Cariboo, my Dad had only contempt for the "likes of Autry". I figured, in my childs brain, that he must have known Autry personally, to feel such acrimony towards him and asked my Dad if maybe he had "gone to school" with Autry and his comment was "Yeah, Borstal". Excited that my Dad had gone to "school" with a famous cowboy, I promptly told all my friends and anyone else in the neighbourhood, that my Dad had "gone to Borstal" with Gene Autry, much to my mother's consternation.

Things heated up even more in our household, when Autry brought out "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeeer". My brother and I were forbidden to have the record or even sing it. By this time, I had reluctantly lost my belief in Santa Claus, so even I, had a hard time understanding my father's skewed logic for the ban on the song, his explanation being "Everyone knows that Santa Claus only has eight reindeer".

After almost fifty years, and as a result of posting Jimmie Rodgers lyrics, with Autry's dialogue, I am finally in agreement with my father. Autry was "wet". Although, I'll probably still find myself looking skyward for St. Nick's sleigh, guided by a red beacon, on foggy Christmas Eve's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: Lanfranc
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 07:22 PM

The first version I ever heard was by Jim Reeves! I suppose I should keep quiet about that, but it did lead me to look out the original Jimmie Rodgers version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: jofield
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 12:59 AM

Me, I prefer the original. No hokey little recitations to 'set up' lyrics that don't need any explanation. And Jimmie's putting the title line fourth instead of second suits me too -- more country. Or maybe it's just whatever one first hears -- I learned the JR version:

All around a water tank,
Standing in the rain.
I'm a thousand miles away from home,
Waiting for a train...

I don't know what the sales figures were, but I always introduce the tune as the first giant C&W hit -- it was covered ny practically everybody.

James in Bristol, RI (not in the Savoie, which is in France)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: Fortunato
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 10:29 AM

Alan, I have the LP where Jim Reeves sings "Waiting for a train", "The Country Side of Jim Reeves", a redundant title if ever there was one. I learned this song from him as well, but I had to hear Jimmie Rodger's recording to get the guitar 'right'. One of my favorite songs, unfortunately I seldom play a venue where it will 'play well'.

I'm about to dispose of the Jim Reeves LP, if you want it and want to pay the postage from SS MD I'll send it to you. I don't collect anything but friends and memories. Cheers Fortunato.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: Lanfranc
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 06:42 PM

Thanks, Fortunato, but I already have a reasonable copy of the old Jim Reeves album.

Hadn't noticed before how common the initials JR are (Jim Reeves, Jimmie Rodgers, Joan Rivers, Jerry Rafferty .. .) Who shot JR?

AF

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 07:16 AM

A fine version also recorded by Jack Elliott and Derroll Adams

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: Fiddle-D_D
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 11:13 AM

Thank you all so much...I just found this site, and it is like Christmas morning---as I also found "The Lark in the Clear Air"-now going to look for "wink the other eye"--nothing in the world, even chocolate--can beat good music-the chocolate can make you ill, music you just never get enough of!! Fiddle D-D

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: Dan Evergreen
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 11:18 AM

Jerry Lee Lewis does it on one of his more recent albums--good job, real good yodel.

Subject: Danville Girl
From: Philj200
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 11:53 AM

Pete Seegar recorded it in the fifties witht he above title. Believe Doc Watson did as well.

Subject: Danville Girl
From: Philj200
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 11:53 AM

Pete Seegar recorded it in the fifties with he above title. Believe Doc Watson did as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Waiting For a Train
From: Amos
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 10:53 AM

Welcome to the 'Cat, Fiddle-Dee...look around and get acquainted, and you'll get addicted... we're all more or less hooked on good music, but the definitions fly like wild geese sometimes.

A