Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train (Norman Blake)

Subject: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: JRB
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 09:57 PM

Thanks for the help, the correct title to the song is Lincoln's Funeral Train and Stewie told me that Norman Blake did it on an album with Tony Rice. Anyone know the lyrics? Much appreciated......

JRB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 11:32 PM

Looks like, from this page that Norman wrote it. Oh, that is a page from Elderly Music, and the album name is Norman Blake and Tony Rice-2

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 03:08 AM

From another thread, which I'm going to delete.
-Joe Offer-

---

Subject: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,JRB - PM
Date: 18-Feb-01 - 02:34 PM

Anyone know the lyrics to "Lincoln's Funeral Train" that was done once upon a time by Norman Blake?
Thanks

---

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Quincy - PM
Date: 19-Feb-01 - 02:07 PM

refresh

---

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Sorcha - PM
Date: 19-Feb-01 - 02:11 PM

There are 3 threads on this, let's try to stick to just one, OK?

---

Subject: Lincoln's Last Train Ride
From: JRB - PM
Date: 18-Feb-01 - 07:27 PM

Looking for the lyrics to a song called Lincoln's Last Train Ride, I heard it once sung by Norman Blake
Thanks JRB

---

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Last Train Ride
From: Stewie - PM
Date: 18-Feb-01 - 09:38 PM

I do not have it on any of my Blake albums. It is on 'Blake and Rice No 2' which I do not have. The correct title is 'Lincoln's Funeral Train (The Sad Journey to Springfield'. This may make it easier for someone to supply it for you.
--Stewie.

---

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Last Train Ride
From: Art Thieme - PM
Date: 18-Feb-01 - 09:41 PM

I'm thinking of aa old radio program from the 1940s called THE LONESOME TRAIN. It was on this topic------Abe coming home to Illinois-----s-l-o-w-l-y-------passing from town to town with sides draped and the people solemnly waiting as the train passed.
If I'm remembering right, featured folks in the show were Burl Ives, Paul Robeson, Pete Seeger, Earl Robinson Bess Lomax Hawes and others . It was written by Earl Robinson.

Is this what you are looking for?

Art Thieme

---

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Last Train Ride
From: Abby Sale - PM
Date: 19-Feb-01 - 01:47 PM

Art - as general, your memory is correct. I still have the 78 12-inch records of it. Interesting bit of still- Socialist Burl Ives. Of course the whole thing's polemic but a super-fine piece.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,Need audio recording of this/and/or radio sh
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 04:23 PM

Abby Sale wrote:
still have the 78 12-inch records of it. Interesting bit of still- Socialist Burl Ives. Of course the whole thing's polemic but a super-fine piece.


Abby, if you're out there please contact me or let me know where I can find another set of these. Also any ideas about if there's an extant recording of the radio shows mentioned by Art Thieme :

I'm thinking of aa old radio program from the 1940s called THE LONESOME TRAIN. It was on this topic------Abe coming home to Illinois-----s-l-o-w-l-y-------passing from town to town with sides draped and the people solemnly waiting as the train passed.
If I'm remembering right, featured folks in the show were Burl Ives, Paul Robeson, Pete Seeger, Earl Robinson Bess Lomax Hawes and others . It was written by Earl Robinson

Thanks a million!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 09:35 PM

There seem to be at least two unrelated items being discussed in this thread.

The first is a song called LINCOLN'S FUNERAL TRAIN (THE SAD JOURNEY TO SPRINGFIELD). It appears on the album "Norman Blake and Tony Rice 2," Rounder CD-0266, 1990. I transcribed this from a sound sample found at Barnes & Noble:

...Draped in black, she won't be back. It's Lincoln's funeral train,
With a portrait of a martyred man shot down by a traitor.
Now toll the bell and bid farewell to the Great Emancipator....

The second is a "folk cantata" from 1939 called THE LONESOME TRAIN - A MUSICAL LEGEND, text by Millard Lampell, Music by Earl Robinson. The text can be found here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 01:37 PM

I remember Earl Robinson himself doing the entire LONESOME TRAIN as part of a concert he did in the early 70s (I think) at the Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago. Mr. Robinson did all the parts and backed himself on guitar as well. (Maybe Ray Tate helped him with guitar.) WFMT-FM recorded it and played it over the air at least once. Their entire archive of the show, THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, (not the TV show) current host Rich Warren now tells me, is housed in a room at the Harold Washington Public Library in Chicago, Illinois and is not available to the public.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Abby Sale
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 05:18 PM

Hi, Guest. I'm around now & then. If'n you're gonna ask, Yes, I've still got the original 78s. Since about 1948. Happily, I taped it just before one of the disks broke in half. Been thinking about what kind of glue to use for a while.

Yes, Jim's clicky does seem to be the whole text but the music was marvelous.

It will likely appear on CD but the raw Socialist message might slow down any producer's perception of its commercial viability...

"Well I say: America for Americans!
What happens on the other side of the ocean shouldn't be any skin off our backs.
Isn't that right Mr. Lincoln?"

"Well I'll tell you, Ma'am:
It seems to me the strongest bond of human sympathy, outside your family, of course,
should be the one uniting all working people of all nations, tongues, and kindred!"

Happy New Year.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 09:34 PM

An old thread, but does anyone know of a modern recording of The Lonesome Train, please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Peace
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 12:47 AM

Jim, your link for "The Lonesome Train" wouldn't work for me. Here is another.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Peace
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 12:54 AM

Decca Records, Inc.
The Lonesome Train-A Musical Legend, Production of Earl Robinson. L1944-75 (835)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 05:21 AM

There's a bunch of Burl Ives video clips online, but strangely they're all the more Christmassy ones, and Lonesome Train isn't anywhere to be seen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 06:59 PM

Anyone?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 08:20 PM

One'll getcha ten that if you e-mail

[e-mail]

you'll get a definitive answer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 07:22 PM

Before I start emailing strangers, who's Oscar Brand, please, Peace?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 07:39 PM

JTT must be under 30

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 02:18 PM

To go at it another way, is there any extant film of Ives singing this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 09:20 PM

Click here to find a library near you that has THE LONESOME TRAIN: A MUSICAL LEGEND—either the musical score or a recording. WorldCat is a fine resource.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 06:53 PM

Hmm. On entering 'Ireland', I was told my nearest libraries were in
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
New York
Connecticut
Pennsylvania
District of Columbia
Michigan
Virginia
Ohio
West Virginia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,geetoo
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 08:04 PM

The poem is by Millard Lampell and is on the web.

Subject: Lyr Add: LINCOLN'S FUNERAL TRAIN (Norman Blake)
From: Cluin
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 11:52 PM

The way I hear it
(from the album "Norman Blake & Tony Rice 2")


Lincoln's Funeral Train
by Norman Blake

On the twenty-first of April
Eighteen and sixty-five
The Three-Thirty-One left Washington
For Lincoln's last train ride

Cannons boomed, the bonfires burned
The evergreens wore grey
Three-Thirty-One, in the morning sun
The hearse, that journey made

See that train comin', boys, rollin' down Main
Draped in black, she won't be back; it's Lincoln's funeral train
With a portrait of a martyred man, shot down by a traitor
Now toll the bell and bid farewell to the Great Emancipator

And on the locomotive front
His picture adorning
In the oil lamps' gleaming yellow light
Rumbling on `til morning

The engine, Nashville Number Fifteen
With her black flags flying
Ran from Cleveland to Springfield
Past the mourners, crying

See that train comin', boys, rollin' down Main
Draped in black, she won't be back; it's Lincoln's funeral train
With a portrait of a martyred man, shot down by a traitor
Now toll the bell and bid farewell to the Great Emancipator

Crowds jammed the streets for a final look
At the great man who had stood
At the country's helm, through the bitter war
That seemed of little good

Felled by the bullet of John Wilkes Booth
As the battle died away
His guiding spirit to reconciled
By absence brought dismay

See that train comin', boys, rollin' down Main
Draped in black, she won't be back; it's Lincoln's funeral train
With a portrait of a martyred man, shot down by a traitor
Now toll the bell and bid farewell to the Great Emancipator
Now toll the bell and bid farewell to the Great Emancipator

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 06:01 AM

Still searching for the album - I've found a few sites that meretriciously promised downloads. Does anyone know where it's possible to buy it on CD or download (or even on vinyl as a last resort)?

http://music.msn.com/album/?album=49775531 is one of the sites I found it on, but it didn't download anywhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 06:03 AM

Sorry, that should be


MSN album listing for Lonesome Train

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train (Norman Blake)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 03:09 PM

Hi,

Maybe way too late here. I just brought home a milk crate full of old box set 78 box sets. There is one that is the Decca Records Album No. DA-375 from the 29M Personality Series with a copyright of 1944 on it.

The cover has Abraham Lincoln on front and it contains 3 double sided records. Title is The Lonesome Train - A Musical Legend.

I have been unable to find any information online and I really haven't see this same item anywhere. Is this something worth keeping? Is this the same thing that was being discussed in this thread?

Sorry to sounds clueless...I guess I actually am on this topic.

Thanks all!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train (Norman Blake)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 03:13 PM

Prev post continued:

Cover says:
Music by Earl Robinson
Words by Millard Lampell
Lyn Murray and His Orchestra
Jeffrey Alexander Chorus
Earl Robinson Narrator
Burl Ives Ballad Singer
Raymond Edward Johnson Abrahama Lincoln
Richard Huey Preacher
and Supporting Cast
Entire Product directed by Norman Corwin

Didn't know if any of that would help decipher what this is...it sounds like an entire product, is that correct?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train (Norman Blake)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 11:14 PM

Worth checking out YOUTUBE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train (Norman Blake)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Apr 15 - 12:15 PM

This was one of the first radio folk ballad programmes from which Charles Parker, Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger were inspired to create the Radio Ballads.

various recordings exist.

On YouTube there is the original recording on 78s by Burl Ives - download using a YouTube DownLoader.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GdiUNRrEz0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-orvvEIkC8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zYosfpcGqI

There is also a CD of Burl Ives' original version on eBay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151638392575

On Archive.org there is a more modern commemorative version - download using Orbit or uTorrent

https://archive.org/details/BuildingBridgesNationalLincolnCantata-EarlRobinsonsLonesomeTrain

More details are here:

http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/imr/2015/01/16/lonesome-train-millard-lampell-and-ballad-opera

CJB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train (Norman Blake)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Apr 15 - 04:09 PM

Words are here:

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/education/lonesome.htm

CJB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lincoln's Funeral Train (Norman Blake)
From: GUEST,GUESTJSF
Date: 24 May 18 - 11:04 AM

A few years ago, after reading Bruce Catton, I wrote a fourth verse to this song, reflecting his take on the train and mine (I'm a transplant from Illinois to Arkansas):

This elaborate funeral pageant was carefully designed
By the War Department's "bitter enders" to poison the Northern mind.
By painting the assassination as a last-ditch Southern scheme
They could punish the South--
       Booth shot Lincoln, but it was Stanton killed Lincoln's dream.

I hope Norman Blake is not offended by the folk process.