My favourite is Bob Dylan's "It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry".
The rhythm, to me, at least, is reminicent of the sway of a coach, and the beat is like the clickety-clack of steel wheels over rail joints.
It's probably not all that verbally connected to trains, but that song is in my head for all the few long-distance trains I've ridden.
Wayne
No train song list is complete without The Orange Blossom Special.
Johnny Cash - Orange Blossom Special - Live at San Quentin (Good Sound Quality) - YouTube
Another great train song not yet mentioned is The Wabash Cannonball. Dizzy Dean used to sing this during baseball telecasts when the game had become boring.
Wabash Cannonball Dizzy Dean with Lyrics - YouTube
ATLANTIC CENTRAL You Never Even Called Me By My Name big hit by David Allen Coe - This also written by Steve Goodman (with some help from John Prine). I listen to these guys alot still to this day. Sheldon
You Never Even Called Me By My Name big hit by David Allen Coe -
This also written by Steve Goodman (with some help from John Prine).
I listen to these guys alot still to this day.
Sheldon
I'm a fan of John Prine too. I always liked his offbeat style. I've left instructions for his song Please Don't Bury Me to be played at my funeral.
john prine please don't bury me - - Video Search Results (yahoo.com)
What about a piece of symphonic music? In 1923, Swiss-French composer Arthur Honegger wrote "Pacific 231" (most European countries count axles, not wheels; thus 231 would be 462 here), with the music reflecting the run of a steam locomotive. In 1949, French film-maker Jean Mitry added pictures to the music (today we would call this a "video"). It is really worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKRCJhLU7rs
Does the Locomotion count as a railroad song?:
Nebraska66 must really love Union Pacific's restored 4014.
(can't seem to embed the video)
ROLL ON BIG BOY
It's interesting that "Big Rock Candy Mountain" became thought of as a children's song, given it's history (particularly it's earliest versions)....
Here we go Runaway Train by Soul Asylum,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRtvqT_wMeY
And Runway Train Movie Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWef2BhqvBk
Track fiddler 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. https://youtu.be/fF1lqEQFVUo TF
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.
https://youtu.be/fF1lqEQFVUo
TF
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.
John, Arlo, Kris And Others Discuss Steve Goodman - YouTube
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.
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...
Heres a nutter won.
https://youtu.be/PWfCbhr3Xls
drgwcs 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
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.
https://youtu.be/6ggBWk-Q_NY
wrench567 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.
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.
There they are.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JqowmHgxVJQ
https://youtu.be/9d2aBkiwXwg
Enzoamps I loved this 65 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYKbCN-zWjs
I loved this 65 years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYKbCN-zWjs
There ya go.
Good morning
SeeYou190 Dixie Flyer by Randy Newman is excellent. It is worth finding.
Dixie Flyer by Randy Newman is excellent.
It is worth finding.
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
Living the dream.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
It is on his 1988 album Land Of Dreams.
Gordon 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.
https://youtu.be/lvJpgn7fVGY
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.
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.
https://youtu.be/Nu4EeyiPf2g