Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: GUEST,Ed O'Donnell
Date: 14 Jan 13 - 03:54 PM

Brings back memories- of "Rriding the retainers" down through the Lehigh Gorge and down Hampton Hill on the fast freights and Pier18 coal trains of the CNJ in 1942-43.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 03:12 PM

From The Railroad Trainman, Vol. 39, No. 6 (Cleveland, OH: Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, June, 1922), page 379:


THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN

I am a happy railroad boy, and braking is my trade.
I run upon the road each day and night,
Turning switches, making fly stops, as along the road we go,
And I see that all the train is made up right.
Oh, yes, we always are on hand, when called upon to go,
Whether in the sunshine, or the rain,
And a jolly crew you'll always find if you will come and see,
In that little Red Caboose behind the Train.

CHORUS: Now here's success to all the boys that ride upon the cars.
In happiness may they always remain;
And the Angels will watch over us when we lie down to sleep
In the Little Red Caboose behind the train.

2. One red light we hang out on each side and another one behind,
As day goes by and night comes stealing on,
And the boy that rides ahead, you bet, keeps it in his mind
And he sees that all the train is coming on;
But as you near a station, you're startled from your thoughts
At the sound of the whistles' thrilling scream.
We skip, out on the hurricane, and leave our cares behind
In that Little Red Caboose behind the train.

3. Now that little car I speak of is precious and more dear
Than all the coaches on the railway line,
And the reason why I'll tell you, is because it is our home,
And we try to keep it in the neatest style.
Although we have no fashion lights, nor velvet cushion seats,
And everything in sight seems all so plain,
Yet there are many honest hearts that beat beneath that rusty roof,
In that little Red Caboose behind the train.

4. Now when you get stuck in the snow, you start out with a flag,
Sixteen telegraph poles farther back you go,
And while you there are waiting, to keep yourself warm,
You will dance an Irish jig there in the snow.
As we are on the road both east and west, in fair weather or foul,
Whether in the sunshine or the rain,
And the leisure moments that we have, we spend down there below,
In that little Red Caboose behind the train.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BRAKEMAN (W. W. Adair)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 02:47 PM

Another old version, but it has only one verse. From The Santa Fe Magazine, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Chicago: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company, Feb. 1917), page 65:


THE BRAKEMAN
W. W. Adair

I am a jolly railroadman, and braking is my trade,
And I run upon the road both day and night,
Throwing switches, coupling cars, as along the road we go,
And I see that all the train is made up right.
Then here's luck to all the boys that work upon the cars.
May happiness and joy to them remain,
And the signals all be white when they come home at night
In the little red caboose behind the train.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Aug 10 - 05:46 PM

From Proceedings of the Third Annual Convention of the Roadmasters' Association of America (Chicago: Railway Age Publishing Company, 1885), page 100:


THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN.
Air—"The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane."

1. I am a jolly brakeman, and squeezing wheels my trade,
While running on the road both day and night;
Throwing switches, pulling pins, as we switch about our train
And seeing that the couplings are all right.
We must always be on hand, when called to go out on the road,
No matter, in the sunshine, or the rain,
And the leisure moments that we have, we pass away below,
In the little red caboose behind the train.

CHORUS: The brake-shoes are worn out,
The wheels are pounding down,
She is loaded down with links, pins and chains,
And there's danger all around, if you lay down to sleep,
In the little red caboose behind the train.

2. Our red lights we hang each side, another one behind,
As days pass off and night is coming on;
And the boys who ride ahead, must keep a sharp look-out behind,
To see that all our trains a-coming along.
And as we near a station, you are startled from your thoughts,
By the sound of the shrill whistle's scream;
And you'll skip out on the "hurricane," and leave the "con" behind,
In the little red caboose behind the train.

CHORUS, etc., etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: Newport Boy
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 08:47 AM

The version starting 'The conductor he's a fine old man' is pretty much what I remember from Bill Bill Campbell on BBC Radio in the 1940's. It was a catchy tune and a good story, and I've sung snatches to myself ever since.

Phil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 12:16 AM

I well remember, as I have already recorded on the "Big Bill Campbell & his Rocky Mountain Rhythm" thread, this song in its "fast express came roaring at 90 miles an hour, The snow was frozen on the windowpane" version, in Rocky Mountain Rhythm on BBC Radio in the 1930s. It left a great impression on me; the line above, followed by "And as he was a-steering, he said a silent prayer For the LRCBTT", have lived with me ever since ~~ among those discrete extracts which come to mind in moments of contemplation to this day ~ 70+ years later. Whether it was a version identical to the one above, in which the brakeman takes his loved fiancée for a ride and she is killed, or what the surrounding details were, I can't call to mind. It's just the bits I quote above which remain intact in my aged memory.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: GUEST,Deke C. Moffitt
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 10:33 PM

Hello,

I was quite surprised to find your search for the lyrics to the children's song "Little Red Caboose." My father, who passed away in the 70's wrote the song and there are more lyrics to what you show.

His name was DeLoyce White Moffitt (aka. Deke Moffitt). He was a very well-known band leader around the Cincinnati are and also toured around the U.S. You can see his photo on my website www.moffitt.tribalpages.com.

Yes, the song is still under copyright. If you would like more information, please write me @ [e-mail].

Hope this reaches you and provides some helpful information.

Deke C. Moffitt

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 08 Jan 07 - 04:44 PM

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE (John Lair)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 11:12 PM

Lyr. Add: THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE
John Lair, 1935

1. Bill Jackson was a brakeman on number Fifty-one,
A member of a bold and daring crew;
An old hard-working railroad boy, but full of life and fun,
A finer, braver lad you never knew.
His train pulled out of Corbin one wild December night,
Outside was ice and snow and sleet and rain;
The boys were gathered 'round the stove where all was warm and bright
In the little red caboose behind the train.

Chorus: Then say a prayer for railroad men when they're out on the run,
Through the chilly winds and driving rain;
When they're called out you never know how soon they'll come back home
In the little red caboose behind the train.

2. Dad Mendenhall was pulling old Fifty-one that night,
An old-time engineer with nerve and skill;
He kept his fireman bending down and everything went right,
Until he lost his brakes on Crooked Hill.
Rolling down the mountain they heard his whistle scream-
And what an awful sound that whistle makes!
The old conductor said to them, "Boys, you know what that means;
We've got to scramble out and set the brakes!"

3. The running-boards were covered with snow and ice and sleet,
Bill was the first to hit them, on the run
The train was flying round a curve and threw him off his feet
And there before their eyes the deed was done.
They saw him sliding over that rocking boxcar rim,
They saw him when he took that fatal drop;
They clubbed those brakes and tied them down and said a prayer for him
As Fifty-one came jolting to a stop.

4. They backed the train and took him into the old caboose,
The boys then gathered round him one and all;
To do the best they could for him, but saw it was no use,
For poor old Bill had got his final call.
They took him on to Stanford, a message sent ahead,
Filled a poor old mother's heart with pain;
It told her that her only boy was coming to her, dead,
In the little red caboose behind the train.

From Norm Cohen, "Long Steel Rail," pp. 261-263. Originally published in 100 WLS Barn Dance Favorites," 1935, M. M. Cole, Chicago, pp. 22-23. Copyright 1935 renewed 1963. Perhaps based on a true event: In the 1930's the L&N Railroad did have a train No. 51 that left Corbin, KY, southbound for Atlanta.

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE RED CABOOSE (Bob Miller)
From: raredance
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 08:41 PM

LITTLE RED CABOOSE
(Bob Miller, 1928)

Conductor he's a fine old man, his hair is turning gray,
He works all day (works on) in sunshine and in rain;
And the angels all watch over as he rides upon the cars
(And the angels all are sober as he rides all alone)
In that little red caboose behind the train.

'Twas many years ago that his hair was black as jet,
It's whiter now, his heart has lonesome been (has known such pain);
And I'll tell you all his story, a story that is true,
Of that little red caboose behind the train.

He met her in September, she was so fair and sweet,
Oftimes together they walked down lovers' lane;
Never was a girl more fair, no sweeter ever rode
In that little red caboose behind the train.

'Twas on a frosty morning, the cold north winds did blow,
The cold had frozen up the windowpane;
They were riding to the city, 'twas on their honeymoon,
In that little red caboose behind the train.

The engineer had ridden that line for many years,
He said the cold was driving him insane;
But he held on to the throttle, his pal was in the rear,
In that little red caboose behind the train.

The fast express came roarin' at ninety miles an hour,
The brakeman (brakie) tried to see but 'twas in vain;
And (For) his fingers were all frozen; he said a silent prayer
For that little red caboose behind the train.

'Twas after the collision, among the wreckage there,
They found her body crushed amid bloodstain;
Many were the tears and heartaches and many were the prayers
For that little red caboose behind the train

The placed (laid) her in the graveyard beside the railroad track,
He still works in the sunshine and the rain;
And the angels all are sober as he rides all alone,
In that little red caboose behind the train.

Recorded by Bob Ferguson (aka Bob Miller) and his Scalawaggers in 1930.

This "red caboose" is found both in Cohen and in Botkin and Harlow ("A Treasury of Railroad Folklore", 1953). The Cohen text was transcribed from Miller's recording. Botkin got his from the singing of L. Parker Temple. Differences in the Botkin text are in parentheses.

rich r

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN
From: raredance
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 07:47 PM

THE LITTLE RED CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN
(tune: "Little Old Cabin In the Lane", aka "Little Old Sod Shanty On The Claim", aka "Lily of The Valley"

We are jolly American railroad boys and braking is our trade,
We're always on the go both day and night;
Throwing switches, makin' flagstops, along the line we go,
And to see that all the train is made up right.
You bet we're always ready when called upon to go,
No matter whether sunshine or in rain,
And a jolly crew you'd find us if you will come and see
In the little red caboose behind the train.

CH:
So here's success to all the boys that ride upon the cars,
May happiness always with you remain;
And a jolly crew you'd find us if you will come and see,
In the little red caboose behind the train

Two red lights we hang on each side, another one behind,
In the evening when the sun is almost gone;
You bet the lad that rides ahead will keep it in his mind
To see that all the train is coming on.
When we are near the station, how thoughtless out we go,
All a-singin' or whistlin' some refrain;
The we climb out on the hurricane deck and leave our coats inside
Of the little red caboose behind the train.

This little car we speak of, more precious and more dear
Than all the other coaches on the line;
And the reason why we tell you, because it is our home,
We always try to keep it looking fine.
Although we have no fashion lights, no velvet cushion chairs,
Everything inside just neat and plain;
There's many an honest heart that beats beneath that rusty roof,
In the little red caboose behind the train,

So here's success to all the boys that ride upon the cars,
May happiness always with you remain;
For a jolly crew you'd find us if you will come and see,
In the little red caboose behind the train

recorded by The Pickard Family in 1929. This song is a parody of "The Little Old Cabin In the Lane" written in 1871 by Will S. Hays. "Little Old Sod Shanty" was another parody of the same Hays song. Norm Cohen ("Long Steel Rail") says the oldest printed version of the caboose song he found was from 1882. The tune associated with the original and all the parodies is not the one Hays originally wrote, but rather the hymn tune "Lily of the Valley"

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: Stewie
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 07:16 PM

Norm Cohen has extensive information, lyrics, music etc on various songs that share the title 'Little Red Caboose Behind the Train' in his 'Long Steel Rail' University of Illinois Press, 1981/2000.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 07:02 PM

I remember Metchosin's version, with a bridge that went:

Oh, when you hear that whistle, you feel just like a king
And when you hear that bell ring, it makes you want to sing -- sing for the....

Little red caboose, etc.

As I recall, it was on a 45RPM record that was pressed in yellow vinyl. That's all I recall, though.

Aloha,
Mar,

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: GUEST,William Robinson
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 03:47 PM

Please help me with the lyrics to "The Little Red Caboose Behind the Train" I remember my father singing it when I was little. Some of the words were: "We are jolly American railroad boys, and braking is our game etc "and a jolly good crew you'll find us, if you will come and see, the little red caboose behind the train" MY EMAIL: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: bill\sables
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 02:14 PM

Thanks , the one sent by Michael of Swansea was the one I used to know. I must have been about three when I last heard it and could only remember the last line but after seeing it I remembered a few lines and the tune
Bill

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 01:19 PM

Sweet Honey's version of the Little Red Caboose is another one of those spiritual-type train songs (on the theme of everyone get on board). They list it as their arrangement of a traditional song. I'll bet the kids' song is just a fragment of the original.

(I first heard it on a great compilation of songs for kids that was given at my son's baby shower (thanks, Don and Loti!), "A Child's Celebration of Song", from Music for Little People, distr. by Warner Bros.)

The chorus is (2x) Little red caboose, little red caboose
riding behind that train

~ Becky in Tucson, AZ

But the verses are:

Get your ticket and get on board
riding behind the train
Get your ticket and get on board
riding behind the train

I've got a brother on that train
riding behind the train
You've got a sister on that train
riding behind the train

Ppresumably you could go through all the assorted relative in the usual fashion.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: Metchosin
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 11:24 AM

DaveO's vesion is the one I remember as a kid as well, only with these differences

Little red caboose
Chug chug chug
Little red caboose
Chug chug chug
Little red caboose behind the train train train train
Goin' down the track track track track
Smoke stack on the back back back back
Litlle red caboose behind the train.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 11:12 AM

Sweet Honey in the Rock does a great rendition of DaveO's version of the song on their cd All For Freedom. That's the one I thought Bill S remembered! Didn't know at all about the other one!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 09:35 AM

I was puzzled when I saw the thread title, because when I was a kid, back in the late Pleistocene, we sang a song, the COMPLETE words of which are set out as follows:

Oh, the little red caboose,
The little red caboose,
The little red caboose behind the train!
The little red caboose,
The little red caboose,
The little red caboose behind the train!

And repeat ad nauseam. Highly inspirational.

DAve Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: Snuffy
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 08:47 AM

You will find two versions on this thread Lyr Add: The Weathered Old Caboose ...

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE RED CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 08:33 AM

LITTLE RED CABOOSE BEHIND THE TRAIN

I am growing old and weary
And my sight is getting dim
I have laid my links and pins away to rust
And the only friend that's left to me
In this wide world to stand
Is the little red caboose behind the train

Chorus:
Oh, I'm growing old and feeble now
And my sight is getting dim
And I cannot see those signals anymore
I can hear those whistles blowing
And I know I'll soon be going
To a better home I know that, far away

There are young ones coming on
It is time for me to go
They'll be pestered with the rain, the sleet and snow
And they'll find a heap of trouble
When those hills they have to double
With the little red caboose behind the train

Chorus:

This what you want?

Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Red Caboose
From: Sourdough
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 05:34 AM

I take it tha tyou've looked in the DT and it wasn't there.

There is a song, to the tun eof LIttle Old Sod Shanty" and "Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane". It begins with,

I am feeling old and weary
And my eyes getting dim.
I cannot read the signals any more,

Aad that's all I can remember. If that's the song, I'll bet Dale Rose knows it. He seems to have a good handle on train songs.

Sourdough

Subject: Little Red Caboose
From: bill\sables
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 05:18 AM

When I was a kid I remember my father singing a song which ended every verse with
"In the little red caboose behind the train"
It must be American because we didn't have cabooses we had guards vans. Anyone got the words?
Bill