Origins: Where the trains roll by

19 Oct 10 - 08:03 PM (#3011128)
Subject: Origins: Where the trains roll by
From: GUEST,Ana

I heard the following song on a radio folk broadcast, and would like to track down the author/singers, origin etc. Your help would be appreciated!

The first verse starts:

Took a job in a factory by the railway side
Where the trains roll by x2
And a girl who was working there caught my eye
Where the trains roll by x2
She moved like a shadow 'cross the factory floor
Where the trains roll by x2
And I was watching from my shippin' door
Where the trains roll by x2

Thanks Ana

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24 Feb 11 - 10:36 PM (#3102350)
Subject: RE: Origins: Where the trains roll by
From: Ross Campbell

"Where the Trains Roll By" is by David Francey, Scots/Canadian singer/songwriter. I just heard the song last night, sung by Gren Bartley (guitar) with Tom Kitching on the fiddle. Just been searching for some details:-

http://www.davidfrancey.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Francey

Nothing more about this song under this title - several other train songs on the album lists, might be one of them?

Anybody else? I have emailed Tom and Gren for any info they can provide.

Ross

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25 Feb 11 - 12:41 PM (#3102673)
Subject: RE: Origins: Where the trains roll by
From: Ross Campbell

Tom Kitching's reply:-

"It's a track from the album 'the far end of summer' and is called 'The Brakeman's Daughter'.

It's a superb album and I wouldn't hesitate to get it. Just about every song is a great chorus song."

Here's David Francey singing it:-

YouTube - David Francey - Brakeman's Daughter

Another version sung by the Celtic Harmony class led by Norah Rendell at the Goderich Celtic College 2009 student showcase:-

The Brakeman's Daughter - Celtic Harmony

Lyrics when I get the chance to listen through a few times.

Ross

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25 Feb 11 - 05:00 PM (#3102813)
Subject: RE: Origins: Where the trains roll by
From: GUEST,David Francey's wife

Hi there!
David Francey's wife, Beth here
That song is "Brakeman's Daughter off of David's award winning CD Far End of Summer
here are the words (below)
It was written when David worked as a carpenter - fixing an old factory beside a railway line - in Lennoxeville, Quebec
Hope that helps
[e-mail]
www.davidfrancey.com

The Brakemans Daughter

Took a job at a factory by the railway side,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by,

And a girl who was workin' there caught my eye,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by.

She moved like a shadow, 'cross the factory floor,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by

And I was watching from the shipping door,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by.

And the lonesome sound of the whistles moan, night, y,
Echoes in my blood and bones,
Leaves us standing all alone,
With what we keep inside.

And the lonesome whistles, siren sound,
Echoes Queen street, up and down,
Echoes all around the town,
And across the river wide.

Upstairs it's the insect click of the boards,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by,

Its all ones and zeros, and never a word,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by,

We were putting in windows, looking south,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by,

And she caught me standing with no words in my mouth,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by.

And the lonesome sound of the whistles moan,
Echoes in my blood and bones,
Leaves us standing all alone,
With what we keep inside.

And the lonesome whistles siren sound,
Echoes Queen street, up and down,
Echoes all around the town,
And across the river wide.

It's a world I could visit, I could never stay,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by,

I'll be gone by tomorrow at the end of the day,
Where the trains roll by,
Where the trains roll by.

And the lonesome whistles siren sound,
Echoes Queen street up and down,
Echoes all around the town,
And across the river wide.

Words and Music by David Francey Feb. 20, 1999.

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25 Feb 11 - 09:03 PM (#3102919)
Subject: RE: Origins: Where the trains roll by
From: Ross Campbell

Thanks for that, David Francey's wife!

Don't know if the original poster will ever see this, but I'm glad to have the words, and to have discovered an interesting voice with a very interesting bunch of songs as well.

Ross

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