Post a song that’s about a Train, or relevant to the Railroad Industry. It’s a plus if it has a train/railroad video that goes with it but doesn’t necessarily have to.
It might be a fun thread and either it will fly or go down like a lead zeppelin. Thought it would be worth a try to see how it goes.
As always, Thanks for your participation.
Okay, I’ll start it off.
TF
The first one that comes to mind. Arlow Guthrie, City of New Orleans. Something we sang when real young Big Rock Candy Mountain. I added it to the list because of the hobo. Ozzy Osbourne, Crazy Train. Blackfoot, Train Train.
I know there’s more but I’m having brain cramp now.
Pete.
John posted City of New Orleans in another thread earlier today but it’s a great song so I’ll post it again here.
There ya go Pete.
TF
Gordon[bow] Good one Brent
I heard this one on Spotify last weekend and had never heard it before. I thought it was Paul Simon but it wasn’t.
TF
Here’s the Big Rock Candy Mountain. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JqowmHgxVJQ
From the movie, Oh Brother Where Art Thou. Man of constant sorrow.
Pete.
Dixie Flyer by Randy Newman is excellent.
It is on his 1988 album Land Of Dreams.
It is worth finding.
-Kevin
I loved this 65 years ago:
Conjunction Junction by Bob Dorough?
Trains Make Me Lonesome by George Strait?
Rock Island Line by Lonnie Dunegan?
Blue Train by John Coltrane? (Instrumental Jazz)
Midnight Train To Georgia by Gladys Knight And The Pips?
Casey Junior from the Dumbo soundtrack?
Train #10 by Tim McGraw?
New Train by John Prine?
Gone Dead Train by George Thorogood?
16 Wheels by Spot 1019?
Peace Train by Cat Stevens?
Train Of Love by Johnny Cash?
Downbound Train by Bruce Springsteen?
Charlie On The M.T.A. by The Kingston Trio?
On The Atchison Topeka And The Santa Fe by Johnny Mercer?
The Train Song (Gonna Love You Like A Freight Train) by Deanna Carter?
You Never Even Called Me By My Name by David Allen Coe?
-Kevin
Good morning
Found it. A perfect mello tune over coffee this morning.
TF
There ya go.
TF
Wreck of the old 97-quite a few I believe recorded it. It is only natural to say this as I call Danville, VA home. The line was rerouted later but one of our club members at the Danville Model Railroad Club has a part of the old right of way a few miles north of where the wreck happened in his backyard- Has found Link and pins etc.
Have a copy of this poster for it hanging at my office at church
Really like the guitar in that song at the end of some great history on this link for ya.
TF
There are all those Bukka White train songs, some of which use the evocative new sound of the A220 streamliner horn…
Tom Rush combined a few of these into this song (be prepared to forgive him for mistaking Washington for Chicago):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JFTjC4I-7PU
I remember first hearing that ‘I’m a Train’ song on the old Captain Kangaroo show. I was horrified at it then, and I find I still am:
Look at me for the very last time/Been a life that’s long and hard/Going down to the breaker’s yard…
Johnny Cash: I’ve got a thing about trains - YouTube
This one struck a chord with me because it was recorded a few years before Amtrak was formed saving long distance train travel in the US. It really did look like it might disappear from the scene.
Here is the City of New Orleans by the composer Steve Goodman.
Steve Goodman - City Of New Orleans - YouTube
There is an interesting back story to this. Goodman pitched his song to Arlo Guthrie and bought him a beer to get him to listen to the song. Guthrie told him he had until he finished the beer to sell him on the song. Guthrie liked the song but he and Goodman reworked the original lyrics into the form that is now well known. I once saw the original lyrics and they were a bit different but I can’t locate them online now.
Sadly, Steve Goodman was diagnosed with leukemia when he was just 20 years old. He survived another 16 years before succumbing to the disease but not before he left his mark on the music scene with what I think is the greatest train song of all.
UPDATE: I just found this video in which Steve Goodman’s contemporaries remember him. Arlo Guthrie tells the story of Goodman buying him a beer to pitch him the song.