A columnist on www.northjersey.com posted an interesting question...
"Is Chuck Berry the first rocker to die of old age?"
No matter. Take it easy Chuck, you're gonna be missed!
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/18/arts/chuck-berry-dead.html
Excerpt from Rolling Stone
A bluesy allegory for sin with a locomotive rhythm-guitar line, "Down Bound Train" reflected Berry's deeply held religious beliefs. The lyrics describe a person who drank so much that he passed out only to awaken on a train lit by a brimstone lamp and barreling through sulphuric fumes – the engineer was "the Devil himself." "I could say my father, in many ways, really wrote the foundation for 'Down Bound Train' in his constant preaching of the horrors of hell once you've missed the blessings of salvation and heaven," Berry wrote in his autobiography. "So let it be known that I'm not alone to reap what I've sown in fire and brimstone because of my own bad traits that I've shown." He added that he still got a chill when he heard the song.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/chuck-berry-20-essential-songs-w472713/down-bound-train-w472734
I found one, and it gets the idea across, but its on Pinterest (and I don't belong), so I can't get a link for everyone to see it. But try this one (Southern Rwy. SD45a 3114):
http://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/14523222168894897/filePointer/14523222177771280/fodoid/14523222177771275/imageType/LARGE/inlineImage/true/Southern-SD45-a.jpg
But thinking about it, wouldn't a GE with radiator 'wings' running long hood forward convey that effect better ? Take a look at this one (NS C39-8 #8558):
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/locomotive/images/5/55/NS_C39-8_Long-hood_forward.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130810051252
Or this one of #8583:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3844/14799910819_948de837cb_b.jpg
- Paul North.
Need a photo of that . . .
Firelock76Should have been pulled by an old, nasty, smelly, rusty Geep.
Geeps aren't evil. At least need a sleek, shiny SD45 running LHF. Kind of has the demon wings thing going for it.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
I like that Josh Turner song "Long Black Train," but I DON'T like the idea the Devil's train is being pulled by a steam engine.
Steam engines aren't evil, diesels are evil. Steam engines are like big friendly dogs! Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, Leonbergers, you name it.
Should have been pulled by an old, nasty, smelly, rusty Geep.
(My tongue's planted firmly in my cheeck right now, by the way.)
One more: Josh Turner's "Long Black Train". Youtube B&W music video, TN Valley RR clips, has 15,000,000 views.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyRZTAmcW7c
As far as I'm concerned they're all the best.
I first heard "Softly By Tracks" read by Garrison Keillor on his Writers Almanac radio show on 8/21/2001. It is track #5 on a CD titled "Poems of the Hobo Road" with music by Steve Cloutier done by Rasberry Hill Records with a theme of RRs and Hobos. For those of us that love steam it may stir your soul with the RR sounds. Actually, I plan on having it played at my funeral.
Poem: "Softly by Tracks," by Buzz Potter from Around the Jungle Fire (The Hobo Press). Softly by Tracks
I stood by the main in the soft August rain
And watched as her headlight appeared
She crested the hill with a low moaning quill
Then proceeded through signals just cleared
She rolled down the main with a rumbling refrain
A song all the ramblers have known
The creaks and the groans and the low whistle moans
Remind us of yesterday’s homes
Oh, how many times have I heard those old chimes
When my church was the high iron trail
When the vision of youth responded to truth
Expressed in a steam engine’s wail
And the clunk of the gear brought a soft welling tear
As I stood there alone in the night
And I felt once again that deep yearning yen
That all us old ramblers must fight
Then she whistled a name that sounded the same
As a lover I knew long ago
I’d met her out there in the clean prairie air
In the rising sun’s soft warming glow
I’d seen her at night in a campfire’s light
I’d heard her soft call on the plains
I’d tasted her love in the rain from above
And slept with her often on trains
And the romance we knew I often review
And I savor the fond memory
Of the sweet cunning way that she led me astray
As soft as a south wind at sea
I remember her now but I can’t recall how
I lost her and she slipped away
She sometimes comes back when I stand by the track
Then she sings and I must look away
And the rivers and streams still carry my dreams
Out where the long freighters roll
And the memories gleam as the lone whistle scream
Still calls to my wandering soul
As the years roll on by, I still wonder why
I miss her and long for her so
And her name in the end was freedom, my friend
A lover that most never know
The train passes by and there’s mist in my eye
And it’s not from the soft falling rain
And I know I’ll be back to this place by the track
To watch freedom go by on the train
New info:you can go to the music streaming service Spotify and enter Buzz Porter or Softly By Tracks as a search to find the musical version. The album tracks are mislabeled, #5 with a time of 2:37 is the one you want. I know of no other free source.
I'd have to say City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie. Came out a couple of years before Dad died and he loved it, went and bought the 45 which I still have. I rode that train this past summer and our sleeper attendant played the Johnny Cash version on the speaker as we were coming into the city. Nice idea. Dad also had an old album of Johnny Cash railroad songs like Orange Blossom Special and others. Mom used to talk about the "baggage car ahead" and said her father's casket was put into the Frisco baggage car going to St. James, MO for burial. Her mom had to present his pass for free transport. There was a car filled with mourners from family and many co-workers.
https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/leon-russell
"Glendale Train" by New Riders of the Purple Sage
and..
"The Art of Catching Trains" spoken word over music by Rod McKuen (as quoted in my profile)
"Freight Train" by Chet Atkins (guitar instrumental)
"Rolling Steel" by yours truly (guitar instrumental)
"Long, Long, Short, Long" also by yours truly.
To put it all in perspective, it was a great series, running the full 7 games, with Game 7 going into extra innings. No significant bad calls or fights on the field or off. No rioting afterwards. The teams and the fans respected one another, no matter which team they represented. Now let's see what happens next year.
Would that the political contest could be so civil!
Tom
ACY BaltACD Easily transfered to the Indians or the Browns. That's right; Rub it in. Tom (Native of NE Ohio; Lived on Chicago's North Side for 10 years. Victim of indescribable angst this year).
BaltACD Easily transfered to the Indians or the Browns.
Easily transfered to the Indians or the Browns.
That's right; Rub it in.
Tom (Native of NE Ohio; Lived on Chicago's North Side for 10 years. Victim of indescribable angst this year).
Just imagine the angst that will happen when we get a World Series between the Indians and Braves.
PS - I have family in NE Ohio, including one that lived for 20+ years in Chicago. I imagine he was conflicted too; but then he rooted for the White Sox when they won in 2005.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
ACY"City of New Orleans" has been mentioned many times on this Forum as one of the best American RR songs. It was written by Steve Goodman and made famous by Arlo Guthrie and others. Many people have never heard Steve sing it. Now it's interesting that his voice is finally being heard around the world singing his"Go Cubs Go", which never got very much National exposure until this year. The really sad part of this World Series victory is that we may have lost forever the joy of hearing him sing "The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request". Tom
"City of New Orleans" has been mentioned many times on this Forum as one of the best American RR songs. It was written by Steve Goodman and made famous by Arlo Guthrie and others. Many people have never heard Steve sing it. Now it's interesting that his voice is finally being heard around the world singing his"Go Cubs Go", which never got very much National exposure until this year. The really sad part of this World Series victory is that we may have lost forever the joy of hearing him sing "The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request".
"Kay Starr, a ferociously expressive singer whose ability to infuse swing, pop and country songs with her own indelible, bluesy stamp made her one of the most admired recording artists of her generation, died Nov. 3 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 94."
Hank Snow has always done my favorites but for something new, try "Steam and Steel" by Laurie Lewis. It contains 9 original songs and is available at midcontinent.org
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/arts/music/bobby-vee-pop-idol-known-for-take-good-care-of-my-baby-dies-at-73.html
No wonder they give that guy the Nobel prize! A pome writer all right!
Dogs run free
Why not we?
(deleted verses)
Dogs have fun
well done
Hot dog bun
just trying to have me some fun
My sister's a nun
wanswheel
Miningman Hard to believe but there was a time when I was as young as Steve Goodman in that clip...I think it was the Pleistocene. Yes, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. I remember the first time I heard Steve singing "City" at the Quiet Knight. He also wrote The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request, but maybe this isn't the time for that song. Tom
Hard to believe but there was a time when I was as young as Steve Goodman in that clip...I think it was the Pleistocene.
Yes, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. I remember the first time I heard Steve singing "City" at the Quiet Knight. He also wrote The Dying Cub Fan's Last Request, but maybe this isn't the time for that song.
Miningman I think it was the Pleistocene.
I think it was the Pleistocene.
Speaking of geology...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Schmitt
https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a17/a17CONO.html
Wanswheel- Remarakable win by the Cubs tonight..history! ...and my beloved Blackhawks came from behind by 2 goals with 2 minutes left to defeat Toronto 5-4 in a shootout.
https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2016/
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