I know we've talked about trains in the movies and Palmlands refrence to the "Last Train to Clarksville" got me thinking about great songs about railroads or trains so I was wondering if anyone here has any favorites.
Gordon Lightfoots Early Morning Rain and Steel Rail Blues.
City of New Orleans - Arlo Guthrie
Diver 8 - R.E.M.
Take the A Train - Do Subways count?
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
All great songs, Tanner. May I add to your list the song about the place "... where they hung the jerk that invented work..." Now, there's a great railroad ballad for you.
Trivia question: Considering the highly sophisticated and cultured people who hang around this forum, I assume someone can name this tune?
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
There is no better train song than City of New Orleans.
For an instrumental I really like Honneger's Pacific 231 performed by Tomita. And there's Pat Matheney's Last Train Home which Amtrak used in its commercials in the late '80s or early '90s. These two pieces are very different, but they really capture the mood of a train ride.
Johnny Cash's Rock Island Line and Hey Porter are classics.
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
I cast my vote for Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans" (the Arlo Guthrie version only!).
Nothing like being at an Arlo concert and listening to him tell about how he came to record this.
By the way, AG will be appearing in Gainesville, FL (no Amtrak; Palatka is nearest station) on 2/8/07.
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
Anyone ever heard the Texas Eagle Song ?
Posted by musicfan (Member # 4673) on :
Don't usually post here, but seeing the topic, I have to throw in a couple of songs in addition to the good tunes already mentioned. "All Down the Line" from the Rolling Stones excellent Exile on Mainstreet album really captures the feel and energy of a fast-moving train. Another mention has to go to Johnny Cash. I finally got around to getting Cash's first American Recordings album, several train theme songs on there, "let the train blow the whistle"(when I'm gone) and the spirtual "Down there by the train" about being baptized for your sins.
Lastly, have to throw in a great tune from Chuck Berry,"Let it Rock" with clever lyrics from a little different perspective and a different era. There is also a great Rolling Stones live cover version of this song from the early 70's for you fellow music lovers. I'll copy Chuck's cool lyrics at the end of the post.
Don't think I will post on the amtrak discussions in general(gets too addicting), but I should say thanks to everbody for helping out with trip planning over the years. I have enjoyed all the trip reports and the back and forth. Even convinced my parents to take the train for the first time all the way from Minneapolis to San Diego this past October. They went to Chicago, then took the Chief to Fullerton, then the next train to San Diego. They had a great time and everything went well for them.
Since I'm already posting, to add one thought from the previous Amtrak discussion, is that I hope some additional Chicago-Minneapolis frequencies are of the absolute highest priority for any expansion discussion. I know everybody wants to be served where they live, but I think this is a case where ridership would more than justify it very, very quickly. Traditionally this was a highly competitive rail passenger market with the CNW 400, Milwaukee's Hiawatha, the Burlington Zephrys and even the slower Soo Line offering a lot of local service across wisconsin. All the four lines are still there, they are all in main line shape. The distance is 400 or 425 miles or so. Perfect for the Corridor mentality. And any new service would plug right into all the existing connections in Chicago. CP Rail has been absolutely excellent with the Empire Builder and Hiawatha service over an extended periord of time. Maybe something could be worked out for additional track capacity. I personnally do not think holding out and waiting for the large amount of money to provide direct service to Madison or "high-speed rail" is worth it. How about "on-time" and ,"quality service" rail. And high "average" speed. I'll go for that. The columbus station is relatively close to Madision as it is. And despite of what the politicians and the university think of their own self-importance, they are not the center of Wisconsin or the most important market. I live in northwest wisconsin, close to the border with Minnesota, and Minneapolis St. Paul has the U of M which is as big as Madison, PLUS all kinds of other large universitys in the MIAC schools and of course maybe 2.5 to 3 million people. To better connect the "Twin cities" to Milwaukee and America's great "Second" City is the most important thing. Even If the additional service is on the existing route, and even at the current 80 mph I think it would be very successful, especially with new equipment. I just hope they remember to order new "lounge cars' to. I think that is one of biggest advandatages to other modes of travel.The fact that your not "stuck" to your seat. Even much more important than whether you have good dining or not. I would really like to see expanded Chicago-MSP passenger rail service by the time the Minneapolis to Saint Paul "Central Corridor" Light rail project is completed and connected to the existing successfull LRT between downtown Minneapolis, the airport and Mall of America. Of course it would be great if they would have the trains stop at St. Paul Union depot again, but even if they don't, once they get the Central Corridor LRT up and running down University Ave, that would be within walking distance of the current Amtrak station in the midway, so either way you would be able to get where your going when you step off the train.
Here are those cool Chuck Berry lyics. Take Care.
Let It Rock (Chuck Berry)
In the heat of the day down in Mobile, Alabama Working on the railroad with the steel driving hammer Gotta make some money to buy some brand new shoes Tryin' to find somebody to take away these blues "She don't love me" hear them singing in the sun Payday's coming and my work is all done
Later in the evening when the sun is sinking low All day I been waiting for the whistle to blow Sitting in a teepee built right on the tracks Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back Pick up you belongings boys and scatter about We've got an off-schedule train comin' two miles out
Everybody's scrambling, running around Picking up their money, tearing the teepee down Foreman wants to panic, 'bout to go insane Trying to get the workers out the way of the train Engineer blows the whistle loud and long Can't stop the train, gotta let it roll on
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
Tanner, we have had this strand before too. In fact, I started it once! But I don't mind having it again, I'm a music person.
"Where they hung the jerk who invented work" is from "Big Rock Candy Mountain." I don't think of that one as a train song, though it IS about hoboes. Actually, it's more of a food and drink song!!! And I do think of many other hobo songs--e.g., "Hobo's Lullaby," certainly (a Woody Guthrie song, sung by his son Arlo, among others), and "King of the Road" (Roger Miller) to an extent--as train songs. And Louis Armstrong's "Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train," esp the intro ("Pittsboig, Vicksboig, all the boigs". . . something like that)
For me too, "City of New Orleans" is probably my favorite train song of all time. It captures the sorrow and nostalgia I feel about what our modern commercial society has done to trains and to so much else of beauty in America. And it has some lovely images--Mothers with their babes asleep rocking to the rhythm of the rails, the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers.
Coast Starlight, yes, I know the "Texas Eagle" by Steve Earle playing with the Del McCoury bluegrass band on his album The Mountain. It's a great song, another of my very favorite train songs. "Texas Eagle" even mentions Amtrak, not favorably, but in a humorous "rhyme":
Nowadays they don't make no trains Just them piggyback freighters and them Amtrak "thaings" . . .
Mr Toy, "Rock Island Line" is an old Leadbelly (Huddy Ledbetter) song. I love his version; I also really like the version by the Weavers, which is more tuneful, though they do add some silly lines (it's a live performance). For Johnny Cash train songs, my favorite is "Folsam Prison Blues," which I find myself humming whenever I'm waiting for a train that's a-coming (including when I am in NYC or DC and waiting for a subway/Metro). The anticipation in that song (so well done in the excellent film Walk the Line) captures the approaching train more than almost any other.
I will have to check out those instrumentals you mention, Mr Toy; don't know them. But for train instrumentals, two favorites are "Orange Blossom Special" as performed by Vassar Clements playing fiddle with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their triple album (double CD) Will the Circle Be Unbroken (the first one), and definitely Duke Ellington Band doing "Take the A Train," Tanner. I don't care if it's about a subway, it's a great train song to me, I always think about it on the train.
Some other favorite train songs of mine:
"Midnight Special": another Leadbelly song, but I like the version by Creedence Clearwater Revival; I also like their song "Cross-Tie Walker"
"The Wreck of the '97": This is a great song, written late 19C I think. I like the version done by Patrick Sky, which has all the lyrics, but some bluegrass versions are quite good too.
"Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight and the Pips
"Atchison, Topeka & the Santa Fe"--hard to find a good version, though
"Chattanooga Choo-Choo"--Glenn Miller version (with vocal) is a good one for this.
"Glendale Train"--I like the version by New Riders of the Purple Sage
"I'm a Train" by Albert Hammond
"It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"--this is a Bob Dylan song, but I like the version done on the Super Session album by Al Kooper/Mike Bloomfield/Steve Stills
"Marrakesh Express" by Crosby, Stills & Nash (wrong continent, but I like it)
"Last Train to Clarksville" by the Monkees
"Choo Choo Ch'Boogie"--Louis Jordan or Manhattan Transfer version both very good
"Southbound Train" by Nanci Griffith
"There a Train" by the Holmes Brothers
"To Morrow" by the Kingston Trio; also their song "Buddy Better Get on Down the Line" and, speaking of subways, "M.T.A" by the Kingston Trio, which is to the tune of aforementioned "The Wreck of the '97"
also the theme from Petticoat Junction
"Shuffle Off to Buffalo" (I think from 42nd Street)
"Jenny Dreamed of Trains"--I like the version by Sweethearts of the Rodeo
"Love Train" by the O'Jays
"Sentimental Journey"
"Night Train to Memphis"
"Freight Train" bu Charles McDevitt & Nancy Whisky, many other versions too
"People Get Ready"--my favorite version is the Chambers Brothers
"This Train" by Peter, Paul & Mary; also they do a pretty good version of "500 Miles"
"No Expectations" by the Rolling Stones (well, it's about a train station)
"Homeward Bound" by Simon & Garfunkel
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Well, I am certainly biased but have to add Johnny Cash's version of 'The L&N don't stop here anymore".
And speaking of Cash, he was certainly a railfan. CSX's president at the time, Dick Sanborn, gave him a ride from Nashville to Jacksonville on the business cars. He loved it and said when he got off, he really appreciated being able to enjoy the ride and not being asked to sing!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
All great selections noted above; and I can't add any more myself.
But here is one that, while not a rail song, is quite appropriate to have playing in your audio device of choice, while ascending a mountain range. That would be Carl Orff's Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi from Carmina Burana.
Oh and if Mr. Marderessian, alias BNSF1088, is to make a cameo appearance around here as well as any other sites at which he played Nostradamus last summer, how about Richard Strauss "Vier Letzie Lieder" (Four Last Songs).
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Congratulations, soujourner!!! Big Rock Candy Mountain is indeed the place where they hung the jerk who invented work. Yes, the land of cigarette trees, lakes of stew and of whiskey too. Where the boxcars all are empty, and all the railroad bulls are visually challenged.
As the winner, you will be receiving your prize in the mail soon. Tickets for you and a guest to the Amtrak's Bagpipe and Drum Band's debut performance of Pipes in the Parlour. Wow, isn't that great?
In your list, sojourner, you mentioned Nanci Griffith's Southbound Train . As a fan of sorts of Ms. Griffith, I think she's a closet foamer. Besides the aforementioned song, Desperados Waiting for a Train, Last Train Home, and Morning Train can be found in her discography. In addition, the rails weave through many of her other songs. For example, in Trouble in the Fields "...the bankers swarm like locusts, out there turnin' away our yield; the trains roll by our silo...silver in the rain; they leave our pockets full of nothin', but our dreams and the golden grain."
Ah, the haunting melodies of Nanci Griffith. I think I'll pop one of her records onto my Victrola. Maybe that'll rid my mind of Big Rock Candy Mountain. I've been humming that song for a day or so, and it seems to be getting on my wife's nerves.
Posted by Kiernan (Member # 3828) on :
"Canadian Railroad Trilogy." Gordon Lightfoot.
Posted by Liberty Limited (Member # 4300) on :
OK, You folks might laugh at me for this one, but so be it...
Some parts of ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me" always seem to remind of traveling LD Amtrak. I know its more of a romance song, but...
The references to "the pretty birds have flown" offers a comparison to planes, while the recurring message that "I'll be around" implies that once one gets tired of being frustrated with flying, you can always come back to the train!
The background accapella vocals meanwhile are very reminiscent of the clickety clack associated with rail travel.
And as anyone here can probably freely admit, travelling Amtrak's LD network does involve taking some chances!
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
quote:Originally posted by sojourner: I will have to check out those instrumentals you mention, Mr Toy; don't know them. But for train instrumentals, two favorites are "Orange Blossom Special" as performed by Vassar Clements playing fiddle with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ....
Orange Blossom Special is another great one, I'll agree. The Hellecasters have a great rock version of it.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
All my favorites have been listed so I won't repeat. But the one exception is "I've Been Working on the Railroad". This brings back wonderful memories of Scouting and camping.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
Train Lady, you are right! I have a good Pete Seeger version and another by John Denver on one of my train CDs.
And there is also Casey Jones!!!
Zephyr, Big Rock Candy Mountain was a big song for Burl Ives, and many others have done it too. I think my favorite (that I have, anyway) is the one on the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack, by a Harry McClintock. I think his recording is from the 1930s or so.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
Sojourner, thanks, I forgot about Casey!! Just on the silly side does anyone remember "A Peanut Sat on the Railroad Track" or "Ooey Gooey Was a Worm"? These are old camp songs to be sung with great gusto
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
I have always enjoyed Arlo Guthrie's rendition of 'City of New Orleans' and most anything from Gordon Lightfoot. One that has not been mentioned yet is a tune called 'Steel Rails' recorded by Allison Kraus and her band, Union Station.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Sojourner - WOW!! Great list of train tunes!!! I bet you don't know these two though:
"Texas 1947" by Guy Clark (also recorded by Johnny Cash, I believe) "Train to Nowhere" by Tom Fogerty (in his post-CCR days)
Also -- last year (2005 -- sorry, I mean 2 years ago), at Jimmy Buffett's famous concert at Wrigley Field, he and Mac MacAnally sang "The City of New Orleans" -- pretty good version of it!
Of course, the best train song of all times (in my opinion) has got to be "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" by Lightfoot!
Posted by Kiernan (Member # 3828) on :
I saw Arlo here in Santa Fe and he sang "The City of New Orleans." Brought the house down.
I just thought of another one. "Rhapsody in Blue," George Gershwin. Really. He wrote the original sketches on a train between Boston and New York and you can hear the clickety-clack of the rails.
Posted by PaulB (Member # 4258) on :
My favorite is "Life is like a mountain railroad".
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
quote:Originally posted by PaulB: My favorite is "Life is like a mountain railroad".
That song, which is essentially an old mountain gospel hymn, is great. I last heard it in February 2005 at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. They were screening some vintage footage shot during the 1930's and 40's of the old East Tennessee and Western North Carolina (aka 'Tweetsie') narrow gauge.
Posted by Judy McFarland (Member # 4435) on :
I'm not aware of any train songs that can be played on the bagpipe, but I'll ask my daughter! LOL
And listening to "City of New Orleans" on my iPod on the Empire Builder is my idea of a fun thing to do. I just have to watch the karaoke effect my iPod seems to inspire. . . .
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kiernan: I just thought of another one. "Rhapsody in Blue," George Gershwin. Really. He wrote the original sketches on a train between Boston and New York and you can hear the clickety-clack of the rails.
Ironic, Mr. Kiernan, insomuch as United Airlines, along with a most impressive "voice over' by actor Gene Hackman, used such throughout the '90's as their broadcast media ad theme.
However, a United Flight Attendant client once told me that they realized they were no longer providing the passenger service, both ground and in-flight, that 'soaring' music evoked and dropped the theme in favor of some 'half cocked' (her thoughts) theme of "Rising'. That to this Attendant, meant maybe they would "rise' again to the level of in-flight service they offered back when she hired on.
Posted by Kiernan (Member # 3828) on :
Mr. Norman, I remember when United started using "Rhapsody." It was the day after the fiftieth anniversary of George Gershwin's death when it became public domain and they didn't have to pay royalties.
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
quote:Originally posted by Judy McFarland: I'm not aware of any train songs that can be played on the bagpipe, but I'll ask my daughter!
When you have this chat with your daughter, would you please ask her if she knows of any recorded bagpipe renditions of Big Rock Candy Mountain. Ideally with Rosie O'Donnell on vocals. Wow, could anything be better than that?
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
RRRich, glad you liked the list. And you are half right; I don't know the Guy Clark song and nor the Johnny Cash version, though I thought one time or another I'd listened to all Johnny Cash's stuff, at least from the library. I will look into it.
I do know the Fogarty song, though I don't remember it well (I don't own it), so I'll hunt it down again.
DavidP, how could I forget Life Is Like a Mountain Railroad? I have the Patsy Cline version and one by Johnny Cash and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their second Will the Circle Be Unbroken.. . . It goes really well with This Train by Peter Paul and Mary and People Get Ready by the Chambers Brothers, also gospel songs that use the train as metaphor for going to heaven. And come to think of it, Rock Island Line.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Sojourner - here are the lyrics to the Guy Clark song "Texas 1947" -- it is actually more of a "recitative" and the words are more spoken than sung (except for the chorus) -- I'm sure you've heard it somewhere.......
Now bein' six years old, I had seen some trains before, so it's hard to figure out what I'm at the depot for.
Trains are big and black and smokin' - steam screamin' at the wheels, bigger than anything they is, at least that's the way she feels
Trains are big and black and smokin', louder'n July four, but everybody's actin' like this might be somethin' more. . .
. . .than just pickin' up the mail, or the soldiers from the war. This is somethin' that even old man Wileman never seen before.
And it's late afternoon on a hot Texas day. somethin' strange is goin' on, and we's all in the way.
Well there's fifty or sixty people they're just sittin' on their cars, and the old men left their dominos and they come down from the bars.
Everybody's checkin', old Jack Kittrel check his watch, and us kids put our ears to the rails to hear 'em pop.
So we already knowed it, when they finally said 'train time' you'd a-thought that Jesus Christ his-self was rollin' down the line.
'Cause things got real quiet, momma jerked me back, But not before I'd got the chance to lay a nickel on the track.
Chorus Look out here she comes, she's comin', Look out there she goes, she's gone, screamin' straight through Texas like a mad *** cyclone.
Big, red, and silver, she don't make no smoke, she's a fast-rollin' streamline come to show the folks.
Look out here she comes, she's comin' Look out there she goes, she's gone, screamin' straight through Texas like a mad *** cyclone.
. . .Lord, she never even stopped.
She left fifty or sixty people still sittin' on their cars, and they're wonderin' what it's comin' to and how it got this far.
Oh but me I got a nickel smashed flatter than a dime by a mad ***, runaway red-silver streamline. . . train
Chorus
NOTE: "***" is Train Web-ease for a...canine!
Posted by bill613a (Member # 4264) on :
"Canadian Pacific"-George Hamilton IV
"Down By The Station"-Four Preps
"The Golden Rocket" & "I'm Moving On"-Hank Snow
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Sojourner - since I'm on a roll now, here are the lyrics to "Train to Nowhere" by Tom Fogerty: (it's on the 1970-sometime album entitled "Tom Fogerty")
Train To Nowhere
I'm leavin' on the railroad, I'm goin' down the line I'm leavin' on the railroad, I'm goin' down the line Don't wanna take your payload, I ain't got no time
I'm leavin' on the hour of the midnight sun I'm leavin' on the hour of the midnight sun Gonna take my powder, gonna take my gun
(x2): Stop messin' with me, mama, stop messin' with my brain Stop fussin' with me, mama 'Cause I gotta catch that train, catch that train, catch that train I'll catch the train to nowhere, still goin' down the line I'll catch the train to nowhere, still goin' down the line I gotta catch that train oh, or I may lose my mind
I gotta catch that train oh, or I may lose my mind (x2)
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: All great selections noted above; and I can't add any more myself.
But here is one that, while not a rail song, is quite appropriate to have playing in your audio device of choice, while ascending a mountain range. That would be Carl Orff's Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi from Carmina Burana.
Oh and if Mr. Marderessian, alias BNSF1088, is to make a cameo appearance around here as well as any other sites at which he played Nostradamus last summer, how about Richard Strauss "Vier Letzie Lieder" (Four Last Songs).
Ahhhhhhh......Carmina Burana - One of my favorites from my college days!
(Seriously) - I was a music major and the semester we programmed Carmina Burina with the symphonic band is one I fondly remember. Seems like we also did the 1812 Overture that year. Good times to be a brass player!
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Never heard of Carmina Burana, but I enjoyed Gilbert's music link -- yeah, that would be nice to listen to while ascending the Colorado Rockies out of Denver on the CZ.
Posted by rresor (Member # 128) on :
Well, there have been a lot of good tunes nominated here, but as a former trackman, I've always been partial to Leadbelly's "Linin' Track". It's a chant, rather than a song, and it goes like this (in part):
Linin' track, linin' track, All I know about linin' track Is this old man's gonna break my back...
Anybody who's lined track by hand (and I have) can really feel the memories in his muscles while listening to this one.
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
By far, Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy". Then, Kraftwerk's "Trans Europe Express".
Posted by irish1 (Member # 222) on :
neil youngs southern pacific is one i havent seen on the lists. also a song called " ive gotta thing about trains' cant remember the artist. its about a dad telling his kid that trains are a thing of the past. ironically they are still here.
Posted by SilverStar092 (Member # 2652) on :
America did two great songs "Sleeper Train" and "From A Moving Train". Both capture the feeling of being on board. Several of their other songs refernce trains; I suspect they are secret railfans. Another good one not mentioned here is "Silver Thread" which was produced for a video about the California Zephyr. "Polar Express" also is a good new addition.
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
Here are some more
Jethro Tull Locomotive Breathe Ian Anderson Trains my theme song on Lets Talk Trains Neil Young Southern Pacific
Chris
Posted by tommers207 (Member # 3930) on :
Here's a few more to add. Some are train related and some the titles just sound like they are.
Aerosmith - Train Kept A Rollin' Faster Pussycat - Nonstop to Nowhere Armored Saint - Last Train Home Electric Light Orchestra - Last Train to London Electric Light Orchestra - Across the Border Badlands - Heaven's Train Dirty Looks - Nobody Rides For Free Cinderella - Heartbrake Station Guns N' Roses - Nightrain Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction - Prime Mover
Posted by bill613a (Member # 4264) on :
"Engine, Engine #9 Roger Miller
"Morning Town Ride" The Seekers
"Click, Clack" Dicky Doo & The Don'ts
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
The list goes on and on and on and on.......... Thanks, Bill, for reminding me of Roger Miler's "Engine Engine No. 9"
How about "The Midnight Special" by Creedence Clearwater Revival? (and other earlier versions)
Posted by Railroad Bob (Member # 3508) on :
Great thread and some wonderful songs listed here. I'll add Norman Blake's "Down Home Summertime Blues." If you don't know Norman, he is probably the best flat picker there is. Has quite a few train-themed original tunes. Here is a sample lyric:
"Silver rails, talking wires, Black crossties and the hoboes fires, Lord, I've got the down home summertime blues.
Down by the watertank, down by the depot, See that train just a comin' in really slow. Me and Ben just sittin' in a boxcar, Strumming and pickin' that depot guitar.."
And so on. Gotta be a cool RR station that includes a "depot guitar." Norman recorded a huge catalog with Rounder and Rhino in the 70s/80s; he is something of a recluse.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
When traveling through verdant countryside, such as the Cardinal or Adirondack, how about this one:
(edit Nov 17-12: material no longer standing)
Now that You Tube is owned by Google, how does this stuff ever remain standing (or is there a 'tooth fairy' somewhere paying the royalties).
Of interest, Toyota is now using a "brief passage' of this song in a 'cute' ad for Prius. I must wonder if such was crafted by the producers in order to push but not exceed Fair Use.
But then there are some Rights infringement matters that simply "have gone too far":
Good song, Gil -- in my younger days, I put together a whole bunch of similar "slide and sound shows" -- I used to take slides of everything -- train trips, ski trips, geologic field trips, family activities, social/club activities, etc, etc., and I would put them to music much like the Bellamy Bros. piece. Each of my "slide and sound shows" contained maybe 10 or 12 songs, and each one lasted about 35-45 minutes. A few years ago I put my shows on video, and still look at them now and them.
Of course, there are MANY MANY train pictures in my shows!!
Posted by cubzo (Member # 4700) on :
Utah Phillips of Moose Turd Pie fame has written and sang many train songs including one about Phoebe Snow.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
Mr. Cubzo:
Thanks for mentioning Utah Phillips. Our local Public Radio station (I listen to their music, not their politics!) has been playing a lot of Phillips recordings, including railroad songs, since his unfortunate demise about a year ago:
Thanks for the link, Twin Star! Now all we need are some ponies running through the bushes behind the bagpipers!!
Posted by Iron Mountain (Member # 12411) on :
Well I must say that my horizons have been expanded. I had no idea the "Stones" had a railroad song among other more contemporary artists.
As tough as it is to add anything to the abundance of railroad songs mentioned I will make a contribution that is little known. It is the Ozark folk song "Iron Mountain Baby".
Lyrics:
I have a song I'd like to sing It's awful but it's true About a baby, thrown from a train By a woman, I know not who
The train was running at full speed T'was northbound number nine An' as it crossed the rivers bridge She cast it from the door
A Mother unkind, a Father untrue And yet I'm bound to say It must have grieved that Mother's heart To cast her baby away
The leaves in which this baby was found Was fourteen inches long Five inches wide, six inches deep An',O, so closely bound
It was Bill Williams who found this babe He heard its helpless cry He took it to his loving wife She would not let it die
She bathed and washed its little head An' soon it hushed its cry God bless them both while they live God bless them when they die
We'll name him William Roscoe Because he has no name Then, if he grows to be a man He'll wear it just the same
This ends my song, my story I've told I'll say goodbye to all Until we meet around the throne In that bright world above all
The tune is sung in true Ozark/Appalachian mountain style, plaintive and sing song. It is an acquired appreciation. And it exudes pathos and poignancy only as that culture could express it.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
I once thought that John Henry was a real person, working for the Chesapeake & Ohio. The incident, where he raced against a steam hammer, was supposedly near Talcott, WV.
I don't know if the story is true or just folklore and fable.
Richard
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kiernan: "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." Gordon Lightfoot.
Here is a nicely produced video of this song from MY "post-college, pre-life" days:
One problem, where did the lyricist learn his geography? Save some man made exceptions, such as in my proximity with the Chicago River, rivers flow down to the sea, and not (@4:40) "up the St Lawrence and out to Gaspe'. "Down" could have been easily substituted.
I am honestly surprised during the song's production no one ever caught that one, or of they did, the lyrics were allowed to stand.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Probably song writers don't worry too much about accuracy, but perhaps there is a plausible explanation. If you're looking at a map, north is generally considered 'up', while south is 'down' as in down south. Since the St. Lawrence runs pretty directly northeast from Lake Erie, I guess you could call it up.
All Lightfoot's songs are good and I believe I still have an LP around called something like Gord's Gold. But, I like any song performed by Johnny Cash, a real train lover. One of his earliest songs, if not the first was 'Hey Porter'. Maybe not great music, but certainly top tapping.
Posted by Railroad Bob (Member # 3508) on :
Palmland, thanks for bringing up the Man In Black's early song "Hey Porter." Swell little song. I always liked it, since portering was what I was doing for a living. This month was my 10 year anniversary from abruptly leaving the railway, due to a severe vehicle accident not my fault.
How about Hank Snow's "Golden Rocket?" That little gem was probably about the time of "Hey Porter." (I think someone already mentioned the Golden Rocket, but I'll name it again!)
Snow, Cash; what great voices they had..
At least the "Hag" is still with us, and gives the occasional concert. All those guys gravitated toward train songs; part of their era, I guess. Speaking of Utah Phillips, I still have his "pure train songs" album, on black vinyl no less and still played a few times a year. Kept my "turntable" - radio-station grade Marantz. Love that analog 'vibrating needle' signal!
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by palmland: Probably song writers don't worry too much about accuracy
I certainly have to concur with that thought, Mr. Palmland; where did the lyricist of "Casey Jones" ever come up with "six-eight wheeler"?
quote:Originally posted by palmland: If you're looking at a map, north is generally considered 'up', while south is 'down' as in down south. Since the St. Lawrence runs pretty directly northeast from Lake Erie, I guess you could call it up.
Again an interesting thought. I can't think of a major North American river in which downstream flows is any Northerly direction, i.e. between 300 and 60dgs on the compass rose. I guess the Ohio River flows down in an NW direction around Pittsburgh at its "mouth' and again through portions of Ohio and Kentucky, but it still is basically E-W. Also, same could be said of the Tennessee River, which whenever I drive I-24 "end to end' (an off topic aside: I don't think the "highwaymen" are ever going to get their wish of an extension from I-57 to St Louis; even they every so often have to take a lesson from Mick) seems to flow "all over the place" but still E-W. Possibly the Cumberland River through Nashville could also flow down in a Northerly direction, but I still have difficulties figuring out where that one goes.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
"Canadian Railroad Trilogy" has always been one of my favorite railroad songs -- in fact, I like everything Lightfoot has done, and I too still have several of his LP albums, including "Gord's Gold."
When my wife and I rode the Canadian back in 2008, they had a singer in the "departure lounge" for the train at Vancouver Station. He was taking requests, and I figured for sure he would DEFINITELY know "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." I asked him to play it, but he couldn't remember more than about the first 2 or 3 lines of the song!!!
Gil -- chill out about the geography of "up" or "down" the St. Lawrence -- haven't you heard of poetic license? I've actually ridden the old Chaleur, which went "up" (north) the St. Lawrence (which we all know is actually downstream) to Gaspe.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Having lived in Jacksonville, FL for a number of years the local residents are very proud of the fact that the St. Johns river does in fact flow north from central Florida before it dumps into the Atlantic near that city at Atlantic Beach (and also where a couple air craft carriers are based at the Naval base).
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: I can't think of a major North American river in which downstream flows is any Northerly direction, i.e. between 300 and 60dgs on the compass rose. I guess the Ohio River flows down in an NW direction around Pittsburgh at its "mouth' and again through portions of Ohio and Kentucky, but it still is basically E-W. Also, same could be said of the Tennessee River, which whenever I drive I-24 "end to end' (an off topic aside: I don't think the "highwaymen" are ever going to get their wish of an extension from I-57 to St Louis; even they every so often have to take a lesson from Mick) seems to flow "all over the place" but still E-W. Possibly the Cumberland River through Nashville could also flow down in a Northerly direction, but I still have difficulties figuring out where that one goes. [/QB]
******************** I don't know many rivers which flow north, Mr. Norman. A few which more-or-less flow north are the Eel River, here in Northern Calif. the Little Big Horn River, the Willamette River in Oregon, and the Athabasca River up in Alberta, which has a nice, photogenic water fall.
Richard
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
As Palmland says, the St. Johns in Florida is one of the few major N. American rivers which flows north.
The upper part of the Yellowstone River, from Y. Lake up to northern Montana, where it joins the Missouri, is basically N-flowing also. Plus the Snake River flows north from the Grand Tetons up across Idaho and eventually into the Columbia River along the OR-ID border (at Ontario, OR, I might add -- a former AMTRAK station on the Pioneer route!)