railroad songs

[Anonymous]

GSanchez:
My wife informed me that John had several railroad songs besides the two I mentioned. I liked Arlo Guthrie's City of New Orleans better than the remake by the other singer/song writer.

When this post came up once earlier (about 1 month ago) I had mentioned Love Train by the OJays also. This time I thought I would come up with some different songs.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RLHainey

My favorite would be Rock Island Line by Johnny Cash along with City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie.

How bout Big Train From Memphis and Midnight Special by JOHN FOGERTY?? Huh Huh??

RLHainey,

Haven't forgotten those John Fogarty tunes.[:D]

Arlo Guthrie's City of New Orleans and Glen Miller's Chattanooga Choo-Choo are classics![^]

I'd also like to add:
1) Southern Pacific - Neil Young
2) Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
3) Love Train - O'Jays
4) Casey Jones - Grateful Dead

[miniwyo]

I prefer the version of "Six days on the road" done by Sawyer Brown. Probably becuse they are more from my time.

[Kurn]

Did you know "The Wreck of Old 97" was based on a real wreck?On Sept. 27, 1903, Southern Railway fast mail 97 went off a bridge near Danville,Va.

[Anonymous]

My favorite would be Rock Island Line by Johnny Cash along with City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie.

How bout Big Train From Memphis and Midnight Special by JOHN FOGERTY?? Huh Huh??

[Anonymous]

There are many country songs that have a rr theme. I guess my top of all time would be Johnny Cash 'Rock Island Line" whwn he was w/Sun Records. There is also a bluegrass tune that sings about the RI but don't know who sings it or what thetitle is.

[Anonymous]

There is also a country song called "Long Black Train" but is not about railroading, and I don't remember who sings it.

[Anonymous]

I never heard the Tractors but I want to go out and buy the album just because of the title.......

[AztecEagle]

Don't Forget "Baby Likes To Rock It Like A Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train"by The Tractors From 1994!!Plus Nearly Anything By Boxcar Willie About Trains!!

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

LIFE'S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN is found in an old Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Album, and was performed by Johnny Cash and the Dirt Band. The name of the album itself is "WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN, VOL. 2."

In BOATHOUSE, a song written and recorded by Canada's premier folk artist, Gordon Lightfoot, Gordon makes reference to a caboose. BOATHOUSE is found in the CD "A Painter Passing Through".

I would rather be at the boathouse, out of the daily grind.
I'd sooner be down at the boathouse, what a way to unwind.
Now I don't wantta know how it feels to be set back
So I'm leavin' here on a one-way track.

I'd rather be in mosquito alley, out of my right hand lane,
You oughtta see my mosquito tally, all that moves is fair game.
Now I don't wantta know how it feels not to be loose
So I'm leavin' here on the 1st caboose.
I'm leavin here on the 1st. caboose.

CANADIANPACIFIC2816

[AztecEagle]

[:)]My Faves:"Waiting For A Train"by Jimmie Rodgers;"Give My Love To rose"by Johnny Cash;"Big Rock Candy Mountain"by Harry McCulloch;"mystery train"by Elvis;"I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blowing"by Hank Williams;"Long Black Train"by Jo***urner;"Mama Tried"by Merle Haggard;"Blue Train"by Johnny Cash;"I'm Moving On"by Hank Snow.[8D][:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JOdom

There's an old hymn that I only remember parts of. A couple of phrases from it are "Life is like a mountain railroad" and "Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail". The first phrase may be the title. Anyone else remember it, or any more information about it?

LIFE IS LIKE A MOUNTAIN RAILROAD

LIFE'S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN

Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that’s brave;
We must make the run successful, from the cradle to the grave;
Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels; never falter, never quail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Bless'd Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

You will roll up grades of trial; you will cross the bridge of strife;
See that Christ is your Conductor on this lightning train of life;
Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Bless'd Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

You will often find obstructions; look for storms of wind and rain;
On a fill, or curve, or trestle, they will almost ditch your train;
Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Bless'd Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

As you roll across the trestle, spanning Jordan’s swelling tide,
You behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide;
There you’ll meet the Superintendent, God the Father, God the Son,
With the hearty, joyous, plaudit, “Weary pilgrim, welcome home!”

Bless'd Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

I hope no one runs to Bergie because I mentioned Christ on this forum.

Jim

[trainfan1221]

Two of my favorite things are music and trains. But I don't care for the two together, never been a fan of traditional train songs.

[SALfan]

There's an old hymn that I only remember parts of. A couple of phrases from it are "Life is like a mountain railroad" and "Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail". The first phrase may be the title. Anyone else remember it, or any more information about it?

[samfp1943]

Orange Blossom Special, by Johnny Cash
Canadian Pacific [ Trilogy?] by Gordon Lightfoot
City of New Orleans by Arlo G.
Jawn Henry[Was a steel driving man] -Hank Snow

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

And also Canadian Railroad Trilogy by Gordon Lightfoot

[Anonymous]

City of New Orleans -- Arlo's version
Canadian RR Trilogy - Gordon Lightfoot
Orange Blossom Special -- Will the Circle Be Unbroken Album Set
Wreck of C&O #5 - almost unknown, throgh those who grew up in the DC area may remember "Pick" Temple singing it.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and there was an entire Broadway show I took some trouble to miss: STARLAND EXPRESS, which I believe was in the mid-to-late Eighties and a Weber/Price confection.

Basic concept: people on skates pretending to be trains. A friend of mine saw it and said there was a musical "competition" between steam and diesel and between "AC" and "DC" electric trains!

Seems like nothing changes on B'way, except the psychosexual undertones????

[Anonymous]

I can't beleive it took this many posts to get "Orange Blossom Special" Good add Conrail Jim

[chad thomas]

Thanks Adrian, I never heard that one before.[8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ConrailJim

Orange Blossom Special

sung by Johnny Cash, while he blows two different harmonicas hanging on his neck and playing guitar

yea, some awsome harmonica parts in that song!!

[Anonymous]

Orange Blossom Special

sung by Johnny Cash, while he blows two different harmonicas hanging on his neck and playing guitar

[adrianspeeder]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Add Neil Young's "Southern Pacific" to that list....haven't heard that in a while.

I don't think I've ever heard that one. Hows that one go?

Southern Pacific
Neil Young

Down the mountainside
To the coastline
Past the angry tide
The mighty diesel whines.

And the tunnel comes
And the tunnel goes
Round another bend
The giant drivers roll.

I rode the Highball
I fired the Daylight
When I turned sixty-five
I couldn't see right.

It was Mr. Jones,
We've got to let you go
It's company policy
You've got a pension though.

Roll on, Southern Pacific
On your silver rails
On your silver rails
Roll on, Southern Pacific
On your silver rails
Through the moonlight.

I put in my time
I put in my time
Now I'm left to roll
Down the long decline.

I ain't no brake man
Ain't no conductor
But I would be though
If I was younger.

Roll on, Southern Pacific
On your silver rails
On your silver rails
Roll on, Southern Pacific
Roll on, on your silver rails.

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Add Neil Young's "Southern Pacific" to that list....haven't heard that in a while.

I don't think I've ever heard that one. Hows that one go?

[BigJim]

Just a few standouts;
Fireball Mail - Hank Snow

Southern Streamline - John Fogerty

I Want To Take You Higher - Sly and The Family Stone(NOT the Ike and Tina version)

[adrianspeeder]

QUOTE: Originally posted by electro-ortcele

Even thought this is a truck song, "six days on the road" also reminds me of diesel trains

Which version?

Adrianspeeder

[mudchicken]

Add Neil Young's "Southern Pacific" to that list....haven't heard that in a while.

[AlcoRS11Nut]

City of New Orleans----Arlo Guthrie Version
Wreck of the old 97----Johnny Cash or Boxcar Willie
Wabash Cannonball---Boxcar Willie
Wherever I may Roam---Metallica (yes...Metallica, the lyrics resemble the way of life of a railroader)

[Tulyar15]

Yes, I like Honegger's "Pacific 2-3-1". In England the LMS Railway had a piece of music composed for the launch of its "Coronation Scot" streamlined express train which I;ve also got in my CD collection. I've made my own railway CD with those two pieces and the theme from the Titfield Thunderbolt.

A modern composer , Steve Reich (American-Jewish) has composed a piece called "Different Trains" which I like too.