Train Songs

Subject: RE: Train Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 17 May 03 - 04:35 PM

A couple of Lightfoot classics: "Steel Rail Blues" and "Canadian Railroad Trilogy"

Subject: Lyr Add: NOT JUST A TRAIN (Kelly/Mann)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 May 03 - 04:33 PM

Spirit of the West's "Not Just a Train":

NOT JUST A TRAIN
Geoffrey Kelly/John Mann 1989

I can strum a little; I can hold a chord
This ain't the gospel and I ain't the Lord
I'm no holy roller, but for what it's worth
My freedom's a train ride to Heaven on Earth

It's not just a train
It's saying goodbye
Saying hello
To where we have been
Where we might go
What we have passed
What we might see
It's not just a train
It's freedom to me

Kids flatt'nin' pennies, as the iron horse rolls by
Between the trains I see an old man, a face full of smiles
A young woman crying as her lover leaves
Gun on his shoulder and stripes on his sleeve

It's not just a train
It's saying goodbye
Saying hello
To where we have been
Where we might go
Places we've passed
Places we'll see
It's not just a train
It's freedom to me

Through a crack in the the slats, a harvest moon shines
On Harper Lee's pages, I turn to kill time
The car toads are waiting for me at the station
To give a bum's rush to a frost bitten `bo

It's not just a train
It's saying goodbye
Saying hello
To where we have been
And where we might go
People we've passed
People we'll see
It's not just a train
It's freedom to me
Freedom to me
Freedom to me
Freedom...

Subject: RE: Train Songs
From: GUEST,dLakota
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 09:46 AM

I'm looking for the lyrics to a song that starts "Silver Rails rolling down(round) the track.... like a ribbon in the wind..." A group used to sing it at the park by the Santa Fe Station in Lamy, NM when I lived there. Thanks for Freight Train. I met Elizabeth Cotton twenty some years ago. What a sweet, gentle sparkler!

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: GUEST,Warren
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 01:27 PM

Don't forget Steve Fromholz, "Texas Trilogy," the middle section of which is "Train Ride."

Texas Trilogy, Steve Fromholz

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 03:01 PM

(only one "soul")

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 01:35 AM

Sorcha,

I have always sung it as----------

The clickety sound of the southbound freight,
The high speed hum of the passenger train,
They're part of the heart and the soul soul and the mind
Of the boy whose raised by the railroad line.

That's how I heard it...

Great song.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: harpgirl
Date: 30 Oct 01 - 10:28 PM

...oh and I sing "But she hocked them for cold cash", left town on the Wabash. Made more sense to me....hg

Subject: Lyr Add: RAILROAD LADY
From: harpgirl
Date: 30 Oct 01 - 11:29 AM

Railroad Lady

by (????)

She's a railroad lady, just a little bit shady
Spending her day's on the train
She's a semi-good-looker, but the fast rails, they took her
Now she's tryin', just tryin' to get home again

South station in Boston to the stockyards of Austin
From the Florida sunshine to the New Orleans rain
Now that the railpacks have taken the best tracks
She's tryin', just tryin' to get home again

* Refrain

She's a railroad lady, just a little bit shady
Spendin' her days on the train
Once a pullman car traveler, now the switchman won't have her
She's tryin', just tryin' to get home again

Once a highballing loner thought he could own her
He bought her a fur coat and a big diamond ring
But he hopped on for cold cash, left town on the Wabash
Never thinkin', never thinkin' for home way back then

Now the rails are all rusty and the dining car's dusty
Gold plated watches have taken their toll
Railroads are dying and the lady is crying
On a bus to Kentucky and home that's her goal

* Refrain


This is one of my favorite train songs and I didn't see it in the thread. Hope I didn't miss it! harpgirl

Subject: Lyr Add: MILWAUKEE/ST. PAUL (Jerry Rasmussen)
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:08 PM

Milwaukee/St. Paul
(Jerry Rasmussen)

Walking down the tracks on a dusty day
With the long steel rails so shiny
Now they tore the railroad depot down
And the tracks have all gone rusty

Fishing off the edge of a railroad bridge
You canf feel those steel rails humming
Better put your bait and your bucket down
'cause the train will soon be coming

All you got to do is to walk those ties
And they're bound to lead you to the country
Lie on your back in the tall, sweet grass
Or you can take your dog and go hunting

I could sit and watch those trains all day
And the cars just keep on coming
Chicago Northwestern, Milwaukee St. Paul
And the steel rails keep on humming

Words and music by Jerry Rasmussen

Subject: Lyr/Chords/Tune Add: I'M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 08:39 PM

Oops, one more:

SINSULL, is the Hank Williams song you mentioned this one?

I'M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY
By HANK WILLIAMS
Transcribed from The Ultimate Country Fake Book, 4th edition, Hal Leonard, ISBN 0-8818-8260-7.
[C]Hear that [Em]lonesome [Am]whippoor-[C]will
He [C]sounds too [Em]blue to [Gm7]fly[C7]
The [F]midnight [Fm6]train is [C]whining [Am]low
I'm so [C]lonesome [G7]I could [C]cry

I've never seen a night so long
When time goes crawling by
The moon just went behind a cloud
To hide its face and cry

Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves begin to die
That means he's lost the will to live
I'm so lonesome I could cry

The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple sky
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry

MIDI file: Lonesome.MID

Timebase: 1024

TimeSig: 3/4 24 8
Key: F
Tempo: 096 (625000 microsec/crotchet)
Name: Instrument 1
Start
0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 76 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 52 064 0000 1 55 064 0000 1 59 064 0000 1 76 064 2048 0 64 000 0000 0 52 000 0000 0 55 000 0000 0 59 000 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 69 064 0000 1 57 064 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 76 064 2048 0 69 000 0000 0 57 000 0000 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 67 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 1 72 064 1024 0 72 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 76 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 52 064 0000 1 55 064 0000 1 59 064 0000 1 76 064 2048 0 64 000 0000 0 52 000 0000 0 55 000 0000 0 59 000 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 55 064 0000 1 58 064 0000 1 62 064 0000 1 65 064 0000 1 67 064 3072 0 55 000 0000 0 58 000 0000 0 62 000 0000 0 65 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 48 064 0000 1 52 064 0000 1 55 064 0000 1 58 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 48 000 0000 0 52 000 0000 0 55 000 0000 0 58 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 1 76 064 1024 0 76 000 0000 1 65 064 0000 1 69 064 0000 1 72 064 0000 1 77 064 2048 0 65 000 0000 0 69 000 0000 0 72 000 0000 0 77 000 0000 1 77 064 1024 0 77 000 0000 1 65 064 0000 1 68 064 0000 1 74 064 0000 1 72 064 0000 1 77 064 2048 0 65 000 0000 0 68 000 0000 0 74 000 0000 0 72 000 0000 0 77 000 0000 1 77 064 1024 0 77 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 79 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 1024 0 76 000 0000 1 69 064 0000 1 57 064 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 2048 0 69 000 0000 0 57 000 0000 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 1 76 064 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 77 064 0512 0 77 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 79 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 1024 0 76 000 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 55 064 0000 1 59 064 0000 1 62 064 0000 1 65 064 0000 1 74 064 2048 0 67 000 0000 0 55 000 0000 0 59 000 0000 0 62 000 0000 0 65 000 0000 0 74 000 0000 1 76 064 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 74 064 0512 0 74 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 72 064 3072 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 2048 0 72 000 0000 1 72 064 1024 0 72 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 76 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 52 064 0000 1 55 064 0000 1 59 064 0000 1 76 064 2048 0 64 000 0000 0 52 000 0000 0 55 000 0000 0 59 000 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 69 064 0000 1 57 064 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 76 064 2048 0 69 000 0000 0 57 000 0000 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 67 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 1 72 064 1024 0 72 000 0000 1 76 064 2560 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 76 064 2560 0 76 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 67 064 3072 1 60 064 0000 1 48 064 0000 1 52 064 0000 1 55 064 0000 1 58 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 48 000 0000 0 52 000 0000 0 55 000 0000 0 58 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 1 76 064 1024 0 76 000 0000 1 65 064 0000 1 69 064 0000 1 72 064 0000 1 77 064 2048 0 65 000 0000 0 69 000 0000 0 72 000 0000 0 77 000 0000 1 77 064 1024 0 77 000 0000 1 77 064 2048 0 77 000 0000 1 77 064 1024 0 77 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 79 064 2048 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 0000 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 1024 0 76 000 0000 1 67 064 2048 0 67 000 0000 1 76 064 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 77 064 0512 0 77 000 0000 1 79 064 2048 0 79 000 0000 1 76 064 1024 0 76 000 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 55 064 0000 1 59 064 0000 1 62 064 0000 1 65 064 0000 1 74 064 2048 0 67 000 0000 0 55 000 0000 0 59 000 0000 0 62 000 0000 0 65 000 0000 0 74 000 0000 1 76 064 0512 0 76 000 0000 1 74 064 0512 0 74 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 72 064 3072 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 2048 0 72 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 72 064 0512 0 72 000 0000 1 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0000 1 72 064 3072 0 60 000 0000 0 64 000 0000 0 67 000 2048 0 72 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Instrument 1
M:3/4
Q:1/4=96
K:F
CEGe5c|EE,G,=B,e5c|AA,CEe5c|CEGG4c2|CEGe5c|
EE,G,=B,e5c|GG,B,DFG6|CC,E,G,B,4e2|FAcf4f2|
F_Adcf4f2|CEGg4e2|AA,CEG4ef|CEGg4e2|GG,=B,DFd4ed|
CEGc6|-c4c2|CEGe5c|EE,G,=B,e5c|AA,CEe5c|CEGG4c2|
e5c|e5c|G6|CC,E,G,B,4e2|FAcf4f2|f4f2|CEGg4e2|
G4ef|g4e2|GG,=B,DFd4ed|CEGc6|-c4cc|CEGc6|
-c4||

Subject: LYR ADD: DOESN'T ANYBODY KNOW MY NAME
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 08:10 PM

Lonesome EJ--

It doesn't appear that New River Train was ever discussed here. Lyrics are at this thread--great old bluegrass...

Guest, EJ:

The Glenn Yarborough song you were trying to think of is called "Doesn't Anybody Know My Name" by, believe it or not, Rod McKuen (well, I like him, but some folks may not). Lyrics may be found here, but I'll put them below as well, since a Forum search doesn't show them in the DT.

DOESN'T ANYBODY KNOW MY NAME
(Rod McKuen)
(© '65 Almo Music)

I've been away for so long
Fought a war that's come and gone
Doesn't anybody know my name
My sister upped and wed
Mom was sick and took to bed
And my old dog Red's gone lame
Please tell me if you can
What time the trains roll in
(Two ten, six eighteen, ten forty four)

This old house is falling down
There ain't no need in me for hanging round
Doesn't anybody know my name
The girl I left behind
she's gone with this friend of mine
I don't have to see a sign
To know things ain't the same
Please tell me if you can
What time the trains roll in
(Two ten, six eighteen, ten forty four)

You can't get far away
On just a soldier's pay
Doesn't anybody know my name
Used to be when I could see
Everybody wanted me
Guess nobody cares to see
A blind man catch a train
Please tell me if you can
What time the trains roll in
(Two ten, six eighteen, ten forty four).

And Doc Watson does a fine job on "Freight Train Blues." Lyrics for that can be found in this thread.

Wow! great bunch of train songs--Does anyone have the lyrics to Texas 47 (mentioned above)?? And a midi or ABC, maybe?

Lin

Subject: Train songs?
From: josiah_cantwell
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 05:33 PM

I'm working on a project for a pal. Can anyone suggest some good train songs, blues or rock? I've got songs ranging from 'Rock Island Line' by Johnny Cash to 'Hellbound Train' by Savoy Brown to 'Hear My Train A'Comin' " by Hendrix, but I'm looking more for real songs about trains and rail trips and events than songs that use trains as a metaphor (like Tull's 'Locomotive Breath" which is more about life than a train). Train songs?

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Luke
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 03:47 PM

Thanks BB NightWing I was sure it was here somewhere.

Luke

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: NightWing
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 03:41 PM

Luke, try this link. The song sounds right. (I actually found two threads about this song *S*

Away Out There

BB,
NightWing

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Luke
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 02:58 PM

I just did a search here on Mudcat for the song "Way Out There" I didn't find it. It was sung famously by the Weavers as well as some western radio bands. Maybe even Bob Wills. I'm not putting my finger on those names right now. (old and dusty in the attic)

The first verse goes: A lonely spot I know where no man can go Where the shadows have all the room I was riden free on that old SP Singin' a southern tune When a man come along made me hush my song Kicked me off a way out there Chorus: Eeeeeoodelediaeeaee Ooooooodelediaeeaee

Thats all I can remember

Subject: Lyr Add: ROLLO
From: Luke
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 02:43 PM

Rollo

Where Rush Creek meets the railroad down below the county line,
Highway nine,
There rests that home of mine.
My neighbor there is Rollo Best. For him I made this rhyme.
In his time,
He sold ice cream for a dime.
And Rollo knows who comes and goes, who rests and who reclines,
About makin' hay while the sun so brightly shines.

(Chorus:) Oh Rollo, Rollo, where did you go?
Went on down to Florida where the birds fly from the snow.
Oh Rollo, Rollo, where did you go?
Come on home, Rollo. You've got a yard to mow.

The railroad trains come into town, their horns a-blastin' blow,
Sad and low,
They come and then they go.
Foundations crumble 'neath the ground, down where it doesn't show,
Down below,
They come and then they go.
And Rollo's seen 'em come and go for a hundred years or more,
Feels every train come shakin' up through the floor. (Chorus)

Time passes like a rolling train in the middle of the night,
Out of sight,
Yet full of force and might.
The whistle calls to one and all asleep so snug and tight,
Shines its light
To the left and to the right.
Though Rollo's gone, the trains roll on.
Somehow, it don't seem right.
The rails bring on their diesel dynamite
And time brings on the snowbirds' fight.

This is about as trainy as I get.

Luke

HTML line breaks added. -JoeClone 27-Mar-01.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Bert
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 02:21 PM

Luke, that would be great. Let's have it then. We LOVE songs by Mudcatters.

The only thing that's 'poor taste' is to mention a song and then not give us the words.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Luke
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 02:17 PM

I like the song "A Way Out There" for all around trainability.I mean it really sounds like one.

I wrote one about the little town I live in about my hundred year old neighbor Rollo. It's an oldtime train town I live in. We have a double track going right through this little town and the trains are so heavy people can't keep a good foundation beneath they're house from the shaking.

Would it be in poor taste to enter such a thing here?

Luke

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: jaze
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 11:05 AM

Tom Rush did a railroad song--Riding On A Railroad-- that I believe was written by James Taylor. Saw a PBS special about trains years ago with Johnny Cash narrarating and singing train songs. He sang a song about the elegance of the old trains and the words had something about "Burgundy" in it. Have tried for years to find this song. Not much to go on I know but anyone know it?

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 03:38 PM

My cousin sings a very nice song, I believe it's called "The Train That Carried Jimmie Rodgers Home." I don't know the original artist, but would sure like to hear the original. Can anyone help?

Mooh, Love in Vain is a Robert Johnson song that the Stones did a very nice cover of.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Robby
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 03:34 PM

Hey, 'Spaw, I forgot to mention in my last message that I used to ride that Phoebe Snow.

Said Phoebe Snow, about to go upon a trip to Buffalo: "My gown stays white, from morn 'til night, upon the road of anthracite".

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Robby
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 02:46 PM

Back in Scranton, PA, where I was bred and buttered, as my Grandmother used to say, there once was a railroad known as the DL&W. It's official name was the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, but was better known to the locals as the Delay, Linger & Wait.

Anyway, I can remember my father and grandfather used to sing a song about it, but all I can remember now is the Chorus:

Where do you work-a John? On the Delaware Lackawan. What do you do-a John? I push and I push and I push. What do you push-a John? I push the cars around. Where do you work-a John? On the Delaware Lackawan, -awan, -awan, -awan, On the Delaware Lackawan.

If anyone knows the verses, I'd sure like to get them.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: richlmo
Date: 14 Sep 00 - 09:37 PM

Doc Watson had a real good album, " Riding on That Midnight Train" with Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and others.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny
Date: 14 Sep 00 - 03:08 AM

Good stuff in this thread! Here's a train song for kids (my dad used to sing this). The tune is something like Alouette.

Down at the station, early in the morning,

See the little puffer-bellies all in a row.

See the station master pull the little handle,

Chug chug, toot toot, off we go!

Dad would wake me up for my chores at 5 am with this, accompanied by a great deal of poking in the tummy, tickling, pulling ears ... don't try this with adults.

== Johnny in OKC

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: richlmo
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 11:14 PM

Doc Watson is always good for a few train songs: New River Train Greenville Trestle Southbound Passenger Train, from " Doc and the Boys" (my favorite) and lots of others.

How about "Midnight Flyer" and "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round", MONKEES, ( actually Michael Martin Murphy[sp] wrote it. )

There are lots of good train songs.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Snuffy
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 09:27 PM

I managed to get into Stewie's postings and found his train songs. I think I've got them all now - hope the links work. Looks like you've already harvested a few of them, Joe

Wreck of the 97 (2)^^

The Leaving Train^^

The Moss Vale Train^^

Black Smoke Train^^

Railroad Blues^^

Death of John Henry^^

Casey Jones 2 and queries^^

Help: names in train song^^

Never gonna stop this train^^

The Sandy Hollow Line^^

Hood River Roll On^^

Linin' track^^

Swannanoa Tunnel (2)^^

Steel A-Goin' Down^^

ADD: The poison train^^

ADD: Battler's Ballad^^

ADD: Requiem (Dave Goulder)^^

The Weathered Old Caboose ...^^

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Snuffy
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 08:55 PM

I keep getting this error message when I try to find Stewie's posts or set the filter to 180 days, So here's what I remember Stewie posting back in March/April. He actually put together a tape with 25 train songs on, but said on April 9th he'd posted 17 - guess the other 8 were already in DT.

---

Error Occurred While Processing Request
Error Diagnostic Information
WaitNamedPipe returned FALSE.

Windows NT error number 121 occurred.

---

These are the ones I definitely remember Stewie posting

SETTLE TO CARLISLE RAILWAY - (Howeth/Downes/Adams) thread asked for help on place names in song

WEATHERED OLD CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN - (Norman Blake) thread may have been Red Caboose ....

CASEY JONES (John Koerner) - had some discussion about Jay Gould's daughter

REQUIEM - (Dave Goulder) I think thread title was "Mallard?"

Other tracks on tape that he may have posted were:

• Linin Track - Koerner/Ray/Glover
  
• Swanannoa Tunnel - Bascom Lamar Lunsford
  
• Steel a'Goin Down - Buell Kazee
  
• The Sandy Hollow Line - Steamshuttle
  
• The Engineer - Michael Cooney - (this is in DT as the Train, filename [THETRAIN - I posted the missing tune from this tape)
  
• This Train - Garland Jubilee Singers
  
• Harriet Tubman - Jane Sapp
  
• Never Gonna Stop This Train - James Keelaghan
  
• The Poison Train - Mike O'Rourke
  
• The Leaving Train - Robin & Linda Williams
  
• Railroad Blues - Sam McGee
  
• Starlight on the Rails - Utah Phillips
  
• Hood River Roll On - Jody Stecher/Kate Brislin
  
• The Battler - Mike O'Rourke
  
• Black Smoke Train - Red Clay Ramblers
  
• Rock Island Line - Convicts of Cummins Farm Gould AR
  
• Death of John Henry - Uncle Dave Macon
  
• Wreck of the Old 97 - Arizona Wranglers
  
• Slow Moving Freight Train - Hugh Moffatt
  
• Moss Vale Train - Alan Scott
  
• Hobo Song - John Prine
  

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 05:02 PM

I'm monitoring this thread and will harves all songs posted here and submit them to the Digital Tradition database. A while back, Stewie posted a number fo trains songs. If somebody would like to find those songs and post a message with links to them, that would be really nice.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: LEGEND OF ANDREW MCCREW^^
From: mousethief
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 04:59 PM

This isn't exactly a train song but it is about a hobo who is killed on the railway. It's one of my favorites.

The Legend of Andrew McCrew
Don McLean

Intro:
There was a mummy at the fair, all crumpled in a folding chair.
The people passed, but didn't care that the mummy was a man,
So tell me if you can

Chorus (repeat after each verse):
Who are you? Who are you?
Where have you been, where are you going to?
Well, Andrew McCrew must have lost his way
'Cause though he died long ago he was buried today.

Down on nightmare alley, where the shady people sway
A hobo came a-hikin' on a salty summer day
Well he hopped a freight in Dallas, and he rode out of sight
But on a turn he slipped, and he lost his grip and he fell into the night.

Well, Andrew had one leg of wood, the other leg was small.
And when he fell off the train that night he found he had no legs at all.
Well they found him in the thicket, and the undertaker came.
And they mummified his body for a relative to claim.

But no one came to claim him, until the carnival passed through.
The carnies took him to their tent and they decided what to do.
Well they dressed him in a worn-out tugs and they put him on a stand.
And millions saw the legend called the `famous mummy man'.

Well, what a way to live a life and what a way to die.
Left to live a living death with no-one left to cry.
A petrified amazement, and wonder beyond words,
A man who found more life in death than life gave him at birth.

But what about the ones who live and wish that they could go.
Whose lives are lost to living and performing for the show.
Well at least you got the best of life until it got the best of you.
So from all of us to what's left of you: Farewell, Andrew McCrew.

-----

Chords (and brief story about the real Andrew McC) here.

-----

O..O
=o=
clickme

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: dwditty
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 04:19 PM

I just scanned the thread quickly. They may be there but I didn't notice Railroad Lady (Jerry Jeff Walker) or Panama Limited.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 08:35 AM

Lightening Express
I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow" (Hank WilliamsThis Train
To Morrow (play on words - Morrow is a town.)
Take the "A" Train

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: GUEST,Michael in Swansea
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 08:10 AM

How come Casey Jones hasn't had a mention?
M

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: sledge
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 06:28 AM

Iron road recently recorded by Bob Fox on his album Dreams never leave you is a goodie. Does a good job of evoking the age of steam in the UK, It can be downloaded from his website as an MP3 file at, www.bobfoxmusic.com

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From:
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 03:50 AM

On what album, in what year, on what label does the Kingston Trio perform "Blue Water Line"? I am doing a research project and have had no luck finding this information. For any help you can provide, thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 26 May 00 - 10:34 AM

He may be too modest to mention it, but Art Thieme has a record of railroad related songs, available from Folk Legacy, which I have enjoyed. "Just the Ticket," if memory serves.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 26 May 00 - 03:36 AM

Great, Spaw, thank you very much. And of course George Harrison is somebody else - may both of them forgive me.

Joerg

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 May 00 - 10:29 PM

Not to fear Joerg......Mudcat strikes again. We have had a couple of discussions on this song by Ray Griff and recorded by Hank Snow and George Hamilton IV (I think that's what you meant instead of Harrison). The lyrics and some other info you might like are on this thread:

CLICK HERE FOR CANADIAN PACIFIC

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 25 May 00 - 10:04 PM

Uh - maybe I'm in the wrong thread - but can anybody provide me the lyrics of "Canadian Pacific" once done by George Harrison IV? That's a not so recent train song that was great to me when I was young. Today I can only get pieces of it, e.g. in medleys, and I can't find the lyrics on the net. Seems to be too common for everybody except me.

Joerg

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 May 00 - 09:08 PM

Here's a link to a page about Percy French with a fine picture of him, and a potted biograohy, including the facts about the court case, which he won.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Penny S.
Date: 25 May 00 - 05:01 PM

The Flanders and Swan song is somewhere on the Place Names thread.

Penny

Subject: Lyr Add: ARE YE RIGHT THERE, MICHAEL?^^
From: GUEST,Crazy Eddie
Date: 25 May 00 - 07:20 AM

How 'bout an Irish Train Song?

Are You Right There Michael?
By Percy French

[Verse 1] You've heard of Columbus's sailin'
Across the Atlantical sea
But he never tried to go railin'
From Ennis as far as Kilkee.

You rush for the train in the mornin'
The excursion that's leavin' at eight
You're there when the guard gives the warnin'
And there for an hour you will wait.

[Refrain] Are you right there Michael, are you right?
Do you think that we'll be there before the night?

Well, we've been so long in startin'
That I couldn't say for certain
But we might now Michael, so we might.

[Verse 2] They find out where the engine's been hidin'
And soon you will reach Currofin
Where the train it backs down to a sidin'
There's a goods from Kilrush comin' in.
Perhaps she'll be in in two hours
Perhaps she'll break down on the way.
If she does says the guard, by the powers
We'll be here for the rest of the day.
And as you sit & curse your luck
The train backs down into a truck


[Refrain] Are you right there Michael, are you right?
Have you got the parcel there for Mrs. White?
You haven't? Well begorrah, say it's comin' down tomorra'
And it might now Michael, so it might.

There are four or five verses in all but that's all I can remember. The Railway in question was the West Clare railway, and I believe that one of their drivers sued French for defamation. Wherever he went people used to sing the song or whistle the tune! I don't know if he won the case.

HTML line breaks added. -JoeClone 26-Mar-01.

Subject: ADD VERSES: The Dummy Line ^^
From: zonahobo
Date: 25 May 00 - 01:52 AM

My Dad used to sing a song called The Dummy Line which I was thrilled to find on your database with some great lyrics I had never read. I think it really was a hobo song. He had a few stanzas (right term?) which I didn't find there which I can add. Maybe they were lifted from other songs, who knows? If they pass the Mudcat review they must be legit! Here goes ....

DUMMY LINE LOST LYRICS:

I once bought a pair of combination underwear
To keep out the cold and the frizelly air
I went six month without irrigation
I couldn't get them off
cause I'd lost the combination!

On the Dummy line .. etc.

I once had a gal down in Mobile
She had a face like a lemon peel
She had a wart on the end of her chin
She called it a dimple
but a dimple grows in!

On the dummy line .. etc.

Three little fleas and three little mice
Sitting in the road playing a game of dice
Along came a horse and steped on the flea
Sais the flea to the mice that's a horse on me

(I think horse is a term in craps shooting ..) ^^

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Stewie
Date: 25 May 00 - 12:48 AM

Where I referred to 'some of the lyrics', I was referring to the album generally, not 'Big Ol' Train'.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Stewie
Date: 25 May 00 - 12:40 AM

New train songs are appearing every day. There's a beauty - 'Big Ol' Train' - on Kimmie Rhodes' brand new album 'Rich from the Journey' Sunbird Records. It's the best thing on the album, apart from 'God's Acre' where she duets with Gillian Welch. Kimmie is in glorious voice, as ever. Some of the lyrics are a bit new-agey spiritual for my taste but, as far I am concerned, she can sing the phone book and I'll listen.

Kimmie Rhodes

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Ditchdweller
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 11:36 AM

It will proberbly mean nothing to those on t'other side of the Big Pond, but I did a song a few years ago putting the Train Driver's point of view about the Great Train Robbery. Early one August Moring in 1963, The up mail gave a mighty roar As 2,000 horses broke free. Driver Jack Mill at the controller, A skilled man, one of the best, One fifty miles to London, Where he could take his rest.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Wesley S
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 05:19 PM

Does anyone know a song about trains by Tom Waits? There is a line in it to effect of "This train took me away from here but it will carry me home again"? I heard it on a special about modern day teenage hobos this week on "Real Life" on MTV. It will be repeated tonight and tomorrow also. Check it out.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Melbert
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 04:47 PM

How about "The Original Honky-tonk Train Blues" by Pete Atkin. A factual description of how a steam loco works cleverly set to music (and with lyrics that take some learning and practise!)

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Dale Rose
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 01:30 AM

Check this thread for an interesting discussion of The Crime of the D'Autremont Brothers a well known train robbery in 1923.

Subject: RE: BS: Train Songs
From: Dale Rose
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 01:51 PM

I just sent Joe a sound file of Die Kleine Bimmelbahn (The Little Train) Marianne Vasel & Eric Storz, Mercury (45) 71286, 1958. I think I'll let him take care of the transcription. Really big smile here.

Subject: Lyr Add: RAISED BY THE RAILROAD LINE^^
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 01:32 PM

OK, here are the lyrics to the song I mentioned earlier.....
RAISED BY THE RAILROAD LINE
words by Paul Craft, copyright BMI
The clickety sound of a south bound freight
And the high speed hum of a passenger train,
Becomes a part of the soul in the heart of a man,
of a boy that was raised by the railroad line.

The sound of the whistle,like a ??(can't get this)
And the tanks and the trucks and the tractors on the flat car roll
Becomes a part of the soul in the heart of a man,
of a boy that was raised by the railroad line.
And the big round penny that you lay on the rail that the wheels mash flat,
And the glimpse of the faces of the ladies and the men, and the engineer's hat,
And the brakeman waves from the red caboose,
I'ts a part of the past, you never quite turn loose,
It's a part of the soul in the heart of a man,
of a boy that was raised by the railroad line.

And the big round penny that you lay on the rail that the wheels mashed flat,
And the glimpse of the faces of the ladies and the men, and the engineer's hat,

The clickety sound of a south bound freight,
and the high speed hum of a passenger train,
Becomes a part of the soul in the heart of a man,
Of a boy that was raised by the railroad line.

Mbo, can you help with the phrase I can't get? Sounds like "like a cross-(something)". Mbo also has the tune, maybe he could do a sound file for Allan Oz to do a midi?