Lyr Req: Last Train from Poor Valley (Norman Blake

Subject: Last Train From Poor Valley
From:
Date: 23 Dec 96 - 01:31 PM

Will someone give me the words to the chorus of Norman Blake's "Last Train From Poor Valley"?

My old ears don't hear it very clearly.

Thanks Bob S.

Subject: RE: Last Train From Poor Valley
From:
Date: 23 Dec 96 - 05:12 PM

It was good onetime, every thing was mighty fine coal tipples roared day and night but things they got slow for no reason that I know ill winds they hove into sight (? think is line) mines all closed down, every body stood around wasn't realy much for us to do just stand in that line get your ration script on time woman I could see it killing you. * *Now the soft new snows of December Lightly fall my cabin round Saw the last train from Poor Valley Carrying Brown Haired Becky Richmond bound.

Subject: RE: Last Train From Poor Valley
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Dec 96 - 09:40 PM

Hi- Thanx for the lyrics dick

Subject: RE: Last Train From Poor Valley
From:
Date: 03 Jan 97 - 03:06 PM

The second verse to the song goes: It's been coming on, I knew you soon would be gone, It even crossed your mind every day. Then you said to me, "Things are bad back home you see, I think I'd better be on my way." So I should blame you now, but I never could somehow, for a miner's wife you weren't cut out to be. It wasn't what you thought, just some dreams that you bought when you left your home and ran away with me. Now the soft new snows... Hope this helps!

Subject: RE: Last Train From Poor Valley
From: Bob Schwarer
Date: 04 Jan 97 - 02:15 PM

That helps a whole lot. Thanks a bunch. I can understand about 95% of the lyrics, but a few missed words can drive a person nuts. Of course you can make up your own words. After all that's what "Folk Music" is all about.

Bob S.

Subject: RE: Last Train From Poor Valley
From: Clhamby
Date: 04 Jan 97 - 05:29 PM

This is true. I don't think anyone (including the author) knows the original words to "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," and the improv(is)ed ones are so much fun.

Subject: Lyr Add: LAST TRAIN FROM POOR VALLEY (Norman Blake
From:
Date: 12 Sep 01 - 05:36 AM

LAST TRAIN FROM POOR VALLEY
Norman Blake

It was good one time
Everything was mighty fine
The coal tipple rolled day and night
And things they got slow
For reasons I don't know
And the chill winds they pulled into sight

The mine's all closed down
Everybody layin' around
There wasn't very much left to do
But to stand in that line
Get your rations strict on time
And woman I could see it killin' you

CHORUS: Now the soft new snow of December
Lightly falls my cabin round
Saw the last train from Poor Valley
Bringing brown-haired Becky Richmond bound

Been comin' all night long
Soon we'll be gone
Leavin' crossed your mind everyday
And then you said to me
"Things are bad back home you see"
I guess I'd better be on my way

I should hate you now
But I never could somehow
A miner's wife you were not cut out to be
It wasn't what you thought
Just some dreams you bought
When you left home and ran away with me

Saw the last train from Poor Valley
Bringing brown-haired Becky Richmond bound

Subject: RE: Last Train From Poor Valley
From: Midchuck
Date: 12 Sep 01 - 09:27 AM

On the flatpick list (where Norman is one of the three living ones of the five gods) we have a tremendous fight every couple of years over whether the correct wording is "..get your ration script on time," or "..get your ration scrip on time." The consensus seems to be that "scrip" would be correct in context, but Norman wrote it and sings it as "script," so "script" it is.

Peter.

Subject: ADD: Last Train From Poor Valley
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Sep 01 - 03:50 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Train from Poor Valley (Norman Blake
From: GUEST,AmazAunt
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 11:38 PM

It's

"I should BLAME you now," not "I should hate you now"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Train from Poor Valley (Norman B
From: pdq
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 11:43 PM

If it is not clear, Becky is leaving and she is "Richmond bound". She is not "Becky Richmond".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Train from Poor Valley (Norman Blake
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 05:22 AM

also it's definitely not

"been coming all night long " (>AS IF ...)

the correct lyrics are

"it's been coming on
I knew you'd soon be gone"

there are a few other minor deviations from what Blake sings in the lyrics printed above, but mothing too serious.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Train from Poor Valley (Norman Blake
From: clueless don
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 08:16 AM

Yes, thanks for that, pdq. I knew the song from the recording by the Seldom Scene, and I always thought it was "..taking brown-haired Becky Richmond down."

Seems like there ought to be a comma between "Becky" and "Richmond".

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Train from Poor Valley (Norman B
From: Midchuck
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 10:56 AM

Nah, Norm's really into B&D, and Becky Richmond was the prettiest sub he knew.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Last Train from Poor Valley (Norman Blake
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 11:37 AM

didn't think you got up to that sort of thing in New Hampshire, Peter.

What happened to "Live Free or Die ?"

(or is that Vermont ?)