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13 Dec 07 - 02:22 PM (#2214687) Subject: Pullman Passenger Train From: GUEST,Jonathan Hewlett Does anyone have lyrics to the song "Pullman Passenger Train," by Pullman Porters Quartet? |
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13 Dec 07 - 03:14 PM (#2214712) Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Pullman Passenger Train From: Joe Offer I don't find a listing for it in Cohen's Long Steel Rail, but it's on the Rounder CD, Train 45: Railroad Songs of the Early 1900's. I haven't time to do a by-ear transcription now, but here's what's in the CD booklet:
No one seems to know anything about the Pullman Porters Quartette; whether they were really Pullman train porters is conjectural. But this 1927 (made in-Chicago) a cappella rendition of PULLMAN PASSENGER TRAIN has such lively turn-of-the-century barbershop harmony that we can excuse any deceptive use of pseudonyms. Today's train travelers, with their short stub-like tickets need to be reminded that half a century ago or more, a ticket consisted of consecutive portions corresponding to the segments of the actual travel; thus, the longer one's trip, the longer one's ticket. "Jack," in the last stanza, refers to a locomotive.
I'm familiar with a different barbershop version of the song that went:
That southbound passenger train…" -Joe- |
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13 Dec 07 - 05:55 PM (#2214845) Subject: ADD: Pullman Passenger Train From: Joe Offer Pullman Passenger Train (as recorded by the Pullman Porters Quartette, 1927) I'm gonna ride that train, That Pullman passenger train I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm I'm gonna ride that train, babe, all night long Gonna ride, gonna ride that train, I mean that Pullman passenger train, [unintellible - "to you, to you, be on me ride"???] All aboard for Missouri Town. [repeat this verse] I got a letter from my girlfriend, From Missouri Town I got a date with my girlfriend, (that I love) From Missouri Town She looks so neat, she talks so sweet, And when she walks she'll take you off your feet. That is my girlfriend (red hot) From Missouri Town I'm gonna ride that train, That Pullman passenger train I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm I'm gonna ride that train, babe, all night long Gonna ride, gonna ride that train, I mean that Pullman passenger train, [unintellible] All aboard for Missouri Town. That [jag], that [jag] That Southbound Limited [jag] First thing you do, you put the shovel in the coal, And put your head out the window, see the driver roll. That [jag], that [jag] That Southbound Limited [jag] mmmm, mmmmmm All aboard for Missouri Town. I'm gonna ride that train, That Pullman passenger train I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm I'm gonna ride that train, babe, all night long Gonna ride, gonna ride that train, I mean that Pullman passenger train, [unintellible] All aboard for Missouri Town. Transcribed by ear from the Rounder CD, Train 45 Please help with the uncertain parts!! -Joe- |
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13 Dec 07 - 06:19 PM (#2214855) Subject: ADD: Southbound Passenger Train From: Joe Offer Well, maybe it was Doc Watson, later recorded by the Limeliters..... Southbound Passenger Train (as recorded by Doc Watson and Frosty Morn, copyright 1976 & 2002) I'm gonna ride, I mean, That southbound passenger train I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm I'm gonna ride that train, baby, all night long I'm gonna ride, I mean, That southbound passenger train Until I hear that old conductor say, All out for Birmingham. I got a letter from my doll babe, (That live) in Birmingham; She's the cutest little doll babe, Way down in Birmingham; Well, she's so sweet, and she's so neat, And when she walk, she knock-a you off-a your feet. She is some mama (red hot) From Birmingham. I'm gonna ride, I mean, On that southbound passenger train I hear the engineer say, "Put your shovel in the coal, Put your head out the window, watch the drivers roll." I'm gonna ride, I mean, That southbound passenger train, Until I hear that old conductor say, All out for Birmingham. Now when I hear that whistle blow, (whoo-oo) It's a music to my ears; And when I'm with my doll babe, I don't shed no lonesome tears. Well, she's so sweet, and she's so neat, And when she walk, she knock-a you off your feet. She is some mama (red hot) From Birmingham. I'm gonna ride, I mean, That southbound passenger train I'm gonna buy me a ticket just as long as my arm I'm gonna ride that train, baby, all night long I'm gonna ride, I mean, That southbound passenger train Until I hear that old conductor say, All out for Birmingham. Transcribed by ear from the Doc Watson Songs from Home CD I'm almost 100 percent certain of these lyrics. Can't say the same for "Pullman Passenger Train." By the way, the two Limeliters recordings credit the song as traditional, arranged by Doc Watson. |
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14 Dec 07 - 05:45 AM (#2215109) Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Southbound/Pullman Passenger Train From: Leadfingers Stoneman Family recorded Southbound Passenger Train on a 78rpm record - We had a copy in The Library of The Aden Forces Broadcasting Association when I was doing a Folk Music programme there in 1967 . |
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14 Dec 07 - 05:53 AM (#2215116) Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Southbound/Pullman Passenger Train From: Joe Offer Got a guess on a recording date, Leadfingers? - before or after the 1927 recording by the Pullman Porters Quartette? -Joe- |
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14 Dec 07 - 10:24 AM (#2215239) Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Southbound/Pullman Passenger Train From: Leadfingers I would say After Joe - Probably late forties or early fifties |