“I’ll tell you a story of Jimmie the kid
He’s a brake man you all know.
He was born in Mississippi, a way down south and he flagged on the T&N.O
He yodeled to fame on the Boston - Maine, the Wabash and the TP
From the old Grand Trunk to the Cotton Belt, he yodeled on the MK&T
On the Lehigh Valley, he yodeled a while, then he went to the Nickel Plate
From the old Lake Shore and the Erie Line, he yodels to a Cadillac 8.
He yodeled he way to the C&A, the Lackawanna and IC (Illinois Central)
He rode a rattler called the Cannonball, then he yodeled on the M K & T (Missouri , Kansas & Pacific”)
These are the lyrics to “Jimmie the Kid,” an autobiographical song written and recorded
by “The Singing Brakeman, Jimmie Rodgers in the late 1920’s. Although, not as popular as his other Blue Yodels like “T For Texas” for example, it is still my favorite.
Jimmie Rodgers was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as an early influence at the very first induction dinner. Hank Williams was inducted in year two.
Johnny Cash was inducted several years later, but not many Country artists of late.
It is important to note that Elvis Presley’s first six singles, all recorded and released by Sun Records in Memphis were big country hits. Sam Philips realizing that Sun did not have the financial capital to break Presley, sold his contract , including those six singles to RCA for $16,000. When Sun artist Carl Perkins hit the Billboard charts with “Blue Suede Shoes” ahead of Presley’s “Heartbreak Hôtel,” RCA head, Steve Sholes called Paul Ackerman, music editor of Billboard, to check that they had not picked the wrong artist to sign from Sun.
There are few Country artists in the R&R HofF, Marty Robbins and Jim Reeves to name just two who I feel belong. “El Paso” what a classic.
Agree with many choices of Train songs from your readers. The train opened up America. Earlier songs like “Atchison, Topeka and the Sante Fe” and Chattanooga Choo Choo” still hold up pretty well.
The train was of great importance; opening up the west and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
That said, Jimmie Rodgers’ songs reman most iconic to me because they were written and sung from the heart.
All the best,
Seymour Stein
Greetings Bob,
I didn't mention these on the phone but, a few more great train songs:
The Log Train and Pan American both by Hank Williams
I'm Moving On by Hank Snow
Johnny Cash had Train Of Love, Blue Train, and the live version of Orange Blossom Special (from the Folsom Prison album).
Regards,
Joel Smith
The Wreck of the Old ‘97.... Hank Snow, Johnny Cash and dozens of others...
John Mucha
A-Train Lady by Mink Deville
Tino Perez
Los Lobos - That Train Don’t Stop Here
Jimmie Rodgers - Waiting for a Train, Train Whistle Blues
Junior Parker - Mystery Train
Rolling Stones - Love In Vain
James Brown - Night Train
Caroline Spence - Trains Cry
Dennis Brown - Westbound Train
Guy Clark or Jerry Jeff Walker - Desperados Waiting for a Train
Joni Mitchell - Just Like This Train
Elizabeth Cotton - Freight Train
Chuck Berry - Downbound Train
Los Lobos - Train Train Don't Stop Here
Delmore Brothers - Freight Train Boogie
O’Jays - Love Train
Cameron Dilley
Did anyone mention?
Genesis - Driving the last spike
Phish - Back on the train
Hugh Hillman
I was reading about train songs. I’m in the band Cocktail Slippers from Oslo, Norway. We are actually releasing our new song NIGHT TRAIN on Wicked Cool Records today.
It was premiered on Little Stevens Underground Garage earlier (Sirius FM) earlier today. Will definitely check out the ones mentioned here that I didn’t know from before.
Thanks for your letters, they are truly enlightening, entertaining and inspiring.
Cheers, Hope from The Cocktail Slippers
One of my faves: "Hobos in the Roundhouse" by Bill Isles
www.youtube.com/watch?v=liEZwapBgJgwww.youtube.com/watch?v=9v-S9U_-s7M Russ Paris
I’m a Train Albert Hammond (maybe not cool to like this amazing songwriter)
Like This Train by The Mutton Birds (arguably the most neglected band ever)
Keep up the good work Bob
Mike Howard
Here's a couple more great train songs...
"Kundalini Express" by Love And Rockets "All aboard the express Kundalini!"
open.spotify.com/track/3tBECC9RQKsh8LJ2AVNN6w?si=vv753Ik7QJCj_tPdC4F8Lg And this gem by Michael McDermott/The Westies... "Trains"
youtu.be/6xJniQCzjsI Best,
Randy Miller
zootsnakes is right about Porcupine Tree "Trains" - great track
Also "Driving Wheels" by Barnes (Neil Schon on guitar?) the film clip is based on trucking but album artwork for Freight Train Heart has locomotive wheels in it?
Evan Linwood
Truckin’ Off Across the Sky... The Guess Who
Ted Decker
youtu.be/KGbtHsEp8yc Did you ever hear this cd? Two man band two?
James Lee Stanley
Kansas City Southern, by Gene Clark, get mentioned yet?
Cheers,
Brian Rashap
Does Charlie on
MTA count as a train song?
wlmorris
Still catching up on the train discussion, but you should definitely check out this excellent cover of Van Morrison’s “Fast Train” by the late great Solomon Burke if you haven’t heard it...
open.spotify.com/track/3691NKQMCy4TQTcdDMVeWL?si=NlAe5TDGQpmWTPygtQ5u0g Barry M. Donohue
I was glad to see Blackfoot recognized, by some folks - great guys.
Another great train song is one that's a bit different by Steps Ahead -Trains
Hard to beat Michael Brecker and the boys. The sax work is world class, and the use of the EWI shows what a pioneer Mike truly was.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j7DrcYTwmA Enjoy
Menzie Pittman
How about "Ride This Train" by Johnny Cash, and "Engine Engine Number 9" by Roger Miller.
Steve Teasley
Hitchcock Railway / Who trivia. Chris Stainton (of Grease Band fame) played the piano parts on Quadrophenia, including "5:15." But he also played piano on “Drowned" employing a rollicking barrelhouse piano riff. Funny thing is, he’d used the SAME riff four years earlier (at a slightly different tempo) on Joe Cocker’s "Hitchcock Railway." It makes for a fun segue… (Drowned):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_NM8387dDQ (H. Railway):
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hitchcock+railway+joe+cocker One of my favorite train tracks: "Morning Train" by Jonathan Edwards from his great album Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaTAr4vqQE4 Carry on. Bill F
Do you remember this….
www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=lord+buckley+the+train J.B. Brenner
I haven’t anything from her lately that I like, but I find this older Neko Case song beautiful. First song I think of for train lyrics.
open.spotify.com/track/52hoRFOSSh7eqOGYmyP2rh?si=_p_DXxc9RJSC1BX3E-awJA - Brett C
Too late for Silver Train/Stones? Jeff
Hear My Train A Comin'
Jimi Hendrix
Railroad Song
Lynyrd Skynyrd...from Nuthin’ Fancy
Tom Clark
Maybe I missed it on your list, but another of my faves is the Chambers Brothers version of People Get Ready.
Great tune off their great Time Has Come lp.
Marty J.
See the Sky About To Rain.
Neil Young
Diane Gentile
The Lark, Harvey Mandel and Charlie Musselwhite’s instrumental ode to trains.
open.spotify.com/track/6OAfgUrt4W0gXYARicfdFc?si=XXXUVp5sTRKBLxol13Dn4Q Cheers!
David Scott Carlick
Late to this but didn’t see Procol Harum’s Whiskey Train or CSN’s Marrakesh Express
Gene.
Anyone mention 8:05 by Moby Grape? Ably covered by Dave Alvin and Christy McWilson.
youtu.be/VVoL0XM_rRg Don Lorimer
I don’t think anybody has mentioned The Blue Nile, “From A Late Night Train”:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVNfv_4HAxk Or Imogen Heap, “First Train Home”:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-zBVF0GvXU And did I miss Love & Rockets “Kundalini Express”?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mnx8jnsYfc Great fun. I’m only bummed that numerous readers beat me to listing one of the great hard rock bands of all time, the mighty Blackfoot (“Train, Train”).
Chris Meindl
Joey Ramone - ”Waiting For That Railroad”
youtu.be/Ei2wuyP-XPE Jeff Feuerzeig
How about Love in Vain, by Robert Johnson; and covered by the Rolling Stones. And Fast Train, by Van Morrison, from his Down the Road album.
-Sheldon Lazarovitz
Robert Johnson. Love in Vain.
A woman, a man, a train.
Also covered on Sticky Fingers.
Tim Trummer
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_L%26N_Don%27t_Stop_Here_Anymore sky songs
Junior Parker, then Elvis Presley's - Mystery Train
Rob Fraboni
How about Sweet Melissa by the Allman Brothers Band!
“Freight train, each car looks the same.. all the same
And no one knows the Gypsy’s name”
X
Melissa Evans
Silver Train - Rolling Stones
Alex Walsh
Bruce “ train song”
youtu.be/F30vQWUsfbs Mitchell Greenbaum
"This Train" from Peter, Paul & Mary's first album
Steven Mandel
You're probably getting a deluge of train song recommendations now, but here's one more for you, if no one has mentioned it yet - "Last Train" by Allen Toussaint. Complete with "choo choo" background vox.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN_NBDz48m0 Tucker Page
I went to college with Steve Goodman. Lake Forest, north of Chicago. I saw him at The Earl of Old Towne. I always said the Class of ’69 went in as freshmen (1965) dressed like the Kingston Trio, but left four years later dressed like long-haired hippies…proudly.
Then, I shot him at Telagi’s in Boulder, CO in 1972. He joined John Prine onstage for a song or two.
And, then Save at Club Passim in Harvard Square in October 1972.
Love your emails.
Best,
Ron Pownall
Has anyone mentioned this pair from Los Lobos?
The Train Don’t Stop Here
Everybody Loves A Train
Dave Logan
Here are a few more. Some may have already been mentioned.
This Train Don't Stop There Anymore - Elton John
No One Takes The Train Anymore - Holly Dunn
One After 909 - The Beatles
Nobody Takes The Train - Anita Cochran
Locomotive Breath - Jethro Tull
Runaway Train - Soul Asylum
Wabash Cannonball - Roy Acuff
Fast Movin' Train - Restless Heart
Duane Duck
Ontario, Canada
Al Green - Back Up Train
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1vfVNGL5Wk Levon Helm - Move Along Train
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG2YR9mMBLU The Rainmakers - Frustration Train
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeAC2vPFlqY Randy Cale
Hard Rock Tulsa
How bout ZYDECAJUN TRAIN by Wayne Toups & Zydecajun (Blast From the Bayou- Polygram) 1989
Sir Richard Lagneaux
I probably missed it but have to mention “New Delhi Freight Train” by Little Feat.
Written by Terry Allen
Feat forever. Thx Bob.
Michael Lille
Hear my train a coming
Hendrix ?
Rock island line
Raised on the weavers version
Jonathan Howard
Steve Winwood "Night Train" (all 7:51 of it) on Arc of a Diver
PAUL FLATTERY
How. How was Vashti Bunyan’s “Train Song”
Left out???
Adam Samuels
Your train thing may never end....but, one more? Pretty Please:
Moby Grape’s “805”. Great simple tune with marvelous harmonies.
Cheers,
Jeff Douglas
The little train that could – burl ives
Jon Levin
Agree 100% on the "Downbound Train" call
Check out one of my other favorite artist's (Kurt Vile) take. Have you heard of him?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B7q-M1tZcg Greg Goldstein
The distant echo
Of faraway voices boarding faraway trains
To take them home to
The ones that they love and who love them forever.
The Jam, Paul Weller.
1978 UK anthem.
Martin O’Donnell.
Glad to see this whole thread, and to see that a couple folks mentioned Fred Eaglesmith's "I Like Trains," but they left out his (Wish I Was A) "Freight Train" and also "Some Roads" ( There are some roads I wish I'd travelled
There are some trains I wish that I had rode
There are some bridges I wish I'd burned, Lord
There are some women I wish I'd never known)
Bob Voges
Arlington, MA
Taking Care of Business
Bachman Turner Overdrive
Scott Simons
Bruce Springsteen & The E' Street Band - Night Train & Fire (live Atlant...
Nobody mentioned this so I will. Night Train (the James Brown cover) sped up , and I think even better than James.
youtu.be/0A85VvUHSiQ Dave Murray
Ghost Train - Marc Cohen
Just like a Train - Joni Mitchell
Move Along Train - Staple Singers
Peace Train - Cat Stevens
Southbound Train - Nanci Griffen
Anne Fennessy
I saw a reader respond that he loves Between Trains by Robbie Robertson from the King Of Comedy. When I was in A&R at Java/Capitol I got Doyle Bramhall to demo a beautiful version of the song for the Hope Floats soundtrack but it didn’t make the cut unfortunately.
Gregg Simon
Bob ... did anyone ask ....
Pardon me, boy. Is that the Chattanooga Choo-choo?
breeves780
As a bona fide train geek, I must give my two cents.
"All Down The Line" (Rolling Stones)
"Silver Train" (Rolling Stones)
"Love In Vain" (Robert Johnson)
"Hey Porter" (Johnny Cash)
"I'm Movin' On" (Hank Snow; then Ray Charles)
"Everybody Loves A Train" (Los Lobos)
"Freight Train Blues" (Dylan)
"The Midnight Special" (The Delmore Brothers)
Cheers,
John Joran
Draw Your Brakes by Scotty
Phil Brown
I also love the 10,000 Maniacs cover of Cat Stevens "Peace Train".
Bryant Brow
One more Train song.
"Trains I've missed" by the great Walt Wilkins
Best,
Jeff Howe
My baby thinks she's a train - Asleep at the Wheel and Last Train Home- Patti Griffith
Anne Fennessy
'Back On The Train' (Phish). Epic.
'Monkey & The Engineer' (The Dead). Quite Enjoyable.
SMR
RED STREAMLINER by Little Feat — is that a train song?
Werner Balzert
Jerry Garcia and David Grishman did a nice version of Freight Train (Elizabeth Cotton) on their kids' album.
Hobo's Lullaby (written by ?), Woody G's favorite song.
Folkie: Starlight on the Rails (U. Utah Phillips)
Canadian Folk Trilogy, Gordon Lightfoot
Kingston Trio's song -- Fast Freight
New Riders of the Purple Sage: Somebody Robbed the Glendale Train
A Rainy Night in Georgia, sung by Brook Benton
Wabash Cannonball (I remember Dizzy Dean singing this on the "Game of the Week" in the 50s)
Tom Ayres
Now I know why I've been walking around with Dionne Warwick singing "Trains and Boats and Planes" and bits of "Downtown Train" by Rod Stewart running through my head.
Karen Gordon
I’m a bit late here but I’m surprised I didn’t see Vashti Bunyan’s hauntingly beautiful Train Song mentioned.
Everybody came to know it from True Detective season one thanks to T Bone Burnett.
It's become one of my all time favorite tracks.
youtu.be/6A6N4dunDxU Chris Stein
My Baby Thinks He's a Train - Roseanne Cash
Brian Siberell
Sting's "Twenty-Five To Midnight"... it even has the "train rhythm" but in 7/4.
Armak
My fav. Midnight Train To Georgia, was originally written to be Midnight Plane To Houston, per Jim Weatherly , author. Label found it to be not soulful enough hence the change.
Barry Pollack
BTO take the 8:15 into the city to be Takin Care Of Business
Sidney Cooke
No one mentioned Novo Combo’s City Bound - (E Train).
All the best,
Bob Musso
BTW I recorded Tom Waits’ Downtown Train
Awesome thread.
It looks like "Tons of Steel" by the Grateful Dead hasn't been mentioned yet. There weren't enough Brent songs and this was a great one.
Thanks,
Rich Waters
Mandolin Orange - Train Song
open.spotify.com/track/51kGiM5b38qp1CKJqfR3ng?si=VYQDGjDyTSuU4iD1lQ6LGA Todd Snider - Play a Train Song
open.spotify.com/track/63qYdOxVE0qmWALQuzU7ZP?si=2TAYVYH9ThG-uLU_CL7s5w Chad Mountain
Guess Who - Pain Train
Gov't Mule - Railroad Boy
Jeff Griffin
Isn't it amazing that NRBQ is never listed on any list?
Train song? Next Stop Brattleboro -
Thanks
djkonk
Hi Bob:
Let’s not forget SeaTrain’s instrumental version
of Orange blossom special. I played it endlessly.
Peter
Texas Eagle by Steve Earle. Romanticizing the bygone era of trains...”nowadays they don’t make no trains just them piggy back freighters and them Amtrak things...”
Tim Pringle
“From A Late Night Train”, by The Blue Nile.
Robert Bond
Not sure if you got this one but if not, it's a great one from the last and perhaps the most agile "Jeff Beck Group"
Jeff Beck Group - New Ways/Train Train
Train Train starts at 3:13
www.youtube.com/watch?v=drawgbKsMng George Gilbert
Homeward Bound?
It was written at a train station!
Alan Pell
I meant to reply as soon as I saw your original post. oh well.
I made this "mix tape" (cassette) of train songs in 1990 and recently updated it on Spotify.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4x2WnnDnCOIWMjcS7Nl81c?si=cMsvRfqwSSKqCwXqkRHF8w Bobby Houck
Big railroad blues?
Don Strasburg
Has anyone mentioned "When You Need A Train It Never Comes" by Amanda Shires?
youtu.be/N53rN5J24Tg Carrie Carroll
I'm late for the fun and may have over looked a previous mention, but... Al Green "Back Up Train" ... his debut single (and album)
They spelled his last name Greene for that release
Ed Brown
This one is certainly worth a listen...
"Train" - Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise
youtu.be/yK__-fGo_Ew Enjoy!
Chad Randau
Don’t forget LONG TWIN SILVER LINE by Bob Seger from the album AGAINST THE WIND
Steve Gerardi
Train in Vain- The Clash
Love in Vain- Robert Johnson/ The Rolling Stones
Blues In The Night- Bobby Blue Bland
Long Black Train- Lee Hazlewood
Different Trains- Steve Reich
Daniel Smith
“That train don’t stop here” - East LA’s Los Lobos
“Train called Rock n Roll” - Canadian rockabilly Band The Bopcats
“Midnight Train” - Canadian Jeffrey Hatcher
Bill Tibbs
Here's a couple more good train songs which I believe no one above has mentioned:
Darden Smith "Clatter & Roll"
Ray Wylie Hubbard "Last Train To Amsterdam"
Both of the above Dallas, TX natives.
Rosanne Cash "My Baby Thinks He's A Train"
This has been fun reading.
I'm really looking forward to creating a Spotify "Train Songs" playlist out of all these great suggestions.
- Allen Hare
Driving around the Gulf Coast of Texas on a beautiful day today I came up with some more……after many hours!
Silver Train—The Rolling Stones
Cheap Day Return—Jethro Tull
Love Train—O’Jays
Stop That Train—Bob Marley
The Midnight Special—Odetta/Johnny Cash/CCW
Bob Jameson
Surprised that no one mentioned my favorite, "Lost My Driving Wheel" or sometimes just "Driving Wheel." Originally by David Whiffen from mid-70's, his version was a bit lost in the sauce, but covers by Tom Rush, Cowboy Junkies, The Jayhawks, and Chris Robinson, all do honor to this beautiful piece of songwriting.
Michael Phelan
Leonia, NJ
Freight Train
Elizabeth Cotton
Runaway Train
Roseanne Cash
Love your posts, Bob
Jim Mullen
As The Crow Flies / Tony Joe White (& Rory Gallagher’s 1974 definitive live version!)
Jd Dworkow
Westport, CT
Currently 29˚
Rudy as in Rudys on the train to nowhere and he's halfway down the line.....Supertramp
Authentic and true to rhythm and the feel of taking the train anywhere in Europe. Seamless & continuous rail not too mention the meaning of the song.....
M1
Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry
Bound for Glory, Woody Guthrie
My Baby Thinks He’s a Train, Rosanne Cash
Peter Knobler
This deep cut is one of my personal favorites:
Fleetwood Mac’s That’s Alright off the Mirage album.
Love Stevie’s vocal on it and it’s interestingly got a little bit of a country vibe to it.
ANITA
I thought you were done, so I don't think I saw Slow Train Coming by Dylan.
Doug Gillis
Maybe I missed it on all of your train song lists but a big favorite of ours for this lyric ...
I wish I was a headlight on a north-bound train. I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain.
Song: I Know You Rider
Grateful Dead
Wendy Brickman
My favorite train song by a country mile is Last Train by Allen Toussaint
open.spotify.com/track/1zFkWtm4zmjB4O3qAokRBX?si=8ewH97cQQmWYEJQ_6l6xbQ.
My apologies if someone already mentioned it.
David Weitzman
Partner
Primary Wave
Well, I’m late but what about the amazing New Ways/Train Train by Jeff Beck (The Jeff Beck Group). 1970. The Rough and Ready album
“Please, please, please go down the line
Never never never been on time
Take me down to the pit of dispear
Anywhere but away from here
Train, train, train you're doing fine
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Rollin' down on that dusty train
Hope we found what we have no yet
You will see time goes by
Many have been this way”
Steve Aliment
Love the 14 year-old with the Locomotive Breath reminder!
And…quite possibly the saddest and most tragic rock song I’ve ever heard:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFmLVtSqQo0 (Stereophonics, Graffiti on the Train)
If you ever are on the verge of crying and can’t quite get it out…this works.
(insert smiley face?)
Connie
P.S. Fastest way to remember the song you don’t think you’ll remember…is to hit “send”…
One of my fave songs of 1988(ish), Breit Brothers “Slow Train”:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh1DtFw8mfI A doorway smash of a train song was “M.T.A” from The Kingston Trio..that some of us remember as a campfire sing-a-long from the annual 2 week summertime, tick-infected parental escape. And Steve Goodman?…a never to be forgotten (and gone way too soon) master. I still frequently re-visit “Jesse’s Jig and Other Favorites”, a magnificent Steve Goodman collection.
In our loving community of Nashville, we’re blessed to live among and see regularly the likes of Steve’s long time friend and label mate John Prine and his amazing activist wife Fiona.
Come visit and get on board, start a love train.
Skip Bishop
Studio2Bee Entertainment
Nashville
"Freight Train, Freight Train.... Run so fast" ... Elizabeth Cotton .
A classic.
Norman Dolph
Click Clack Howlin Wolf
Jeffrey Roy
"Texas 1947": Click Clack Howlin Wolf
Mark McLaughlin
I gotta add one more
Train of Glory - Jonathon Edward's
Great Harp
Your friend
Dave Frantz
I don’t think these 2 were mentioned:
Whiskey Train -Procol Harum
Station Man - Fleetwood Man
Jonathan NYC
It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry—but!
Such fun! Going to go roots—Elizabeth Cotten, Freight Train (got to see her in a church basement when I was a kid), and the original version of Night Train by Jimmy Forrest. Original versions of Train Kept a Rollin’ should get a shout out (Paul Burleson, guitar!) and so should Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner, who Bob Ezrin called in for the Aerosmith solos ((Beck/Page Yardbirds still my favorite).
Thanks, Bob. This stuff keeps us all engaged with each other. Important now more than ever, regardless of what stripe of the flag one claims.
Mark Daterman,
NYC
‘Driver 8’ - REM. Fables Of The Reconstruction ‘85
Barry Privett
Too late chiming in on this but perhaps the greatest of all is Bob Marley and The Wailers ’Stop That Train’
(Catch A Fire, 1973)
open.spotify.com/track/3zyiIZPvHvZypLqQiN9zey?si=0TOx_lqDQ6Kqwpob3PUUlQ Derek Hess
This is fun! Has anyone chipped in with Lynard Skynard’s “Tuesday’s Gone”? Metallica cover works too. Tim, NYC
Timothy Pistell
Great column the trains keep rolling!
Someone may have mentioned if so I missed them:
Albert King singing Match Box Blues:
"Cause if she flags my train buddy I am bound to let her ride"
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Albert did the song…
Billy Joe Shaver: Fast Train to Georgia
Numerous songs by The Byrds, Dylan, Marty Stuart and many others..
Watt Casey
Fuck by The Leaving Trains
Johnny Palazzotto
Solomon Burke: "Fast Train"
Alan Swyer
Fun list. A few personal favorites:
Can’t Stop A Train - The Derailers
Amtrak Crescent - Scott Miller
Everybody Loves A Train - Los Lobos
Train - Uncle Tupelo
The Next Thing Smokin’ - Tom Russell
Emperor of the North - Rick Shea
On The Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe - Johnny Mercer and many others
Jack Powers
She Caught the Katy has got to be on there, no? Pick a version.
Jeff Chesman
One more.
Rufus Thomas - Memphis Train
(Also coveted by Buddy Miles)
Dave Logan
People Got to be Free - Rascals
The Letter - Box Tops
You Never Even Called Me by My Name - David Alan Coe
Hear my Train A’Comin - Hendrix
Love in Vain - Stones
Mark Town
Catch a Train, by Free.
Christopher Palmer
Peace Train by Cat Stevens
Michael Solomon
Did I miss the meta answer: Todd Snider’s Play a Train Song. "Play a train song, pour me one more round/Make 'em leave my boots on when they lay me into the ground/ I am a runaway locomotive, out of my one track mind/And I'm a-lookin' for any kinda trouble that I can find"
Mark Pelavin
Fast train - Solomon Burke
Ghost Train - Counting Crows
Chris Goerlitz
Bob Seger - long twin silver line.
zakkcar
First one that popped in my mind is Bob Dylan’s “Duquesne Whistle.”
youtu.be/mns9VeRguys My friend Scott Litt and I recorded and mixed. Opening song on the album “Tempest”. Beautiful song.
Great video too! Never saw it till right now. Bernie Sanders has a great cameo too as a flower salesman at 2:05 ??
Hugs,
Dana Nielsen
"Train Round the Bend" by the Velvet Underground. The most optimistic train song ever!
Thanks Bob!
Greg Remillard
Had to add “Are You Lonely For Me Baby” Freddie Scott
Joe Selinsky
Train Train by Blackfoot
Kundalini Express by Love and Rockets
Hot Rails To Hell by Blue Oyster Cult
Long Train Runnin’ by the Doobies (I probably missed that already in the list).
Alex Terapane
You might let your readers know that Omnivore has been reissuing some of Steve Goodman's albums with bonus tracks:
omnivorerecordings.com/steve-goodman/ hyperboium
"Last Train to Lhasa" by Banco de Gaia.
From the electronic world music genre.
ANTHONY RHODES
Bob Dylan—Duquesne Whistle
Tiny Bradshaw—The Train Kept A-Rollin’ (the original)
Tarheel Slim—Number Nine Train
John Fogerty—Southern Streamline & Big Train From Memphis
John Hiatt—Train To Birmingham
Rosanne Cash—My Baby Thinks He’s A Train & Runaway Train
Interboro Rhythm Team—Watch The Closing Doors
—not to mention “I’ve Been Working On The Railroad”
Gregg Geller
"Click Clack"
1958
Dickie do and the don'ts
Swan records.
The lead singer was Gerry Granahan, who did a bunch of other stuff too.
youtu.be/fvyfHVai0Qs Petticoat Junction...
Cover of Jimmie Rogers - Boz Scaggs and Duane Allman:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OXlpgZoS2c Does the list ever end?
Lou Judson
Tan Mahal- She Caught The Katy
Terry Micalizio
Monkey and the Engineer
Casey Jones
Both by the Grateful Dead
John Panzarella
Best Train Song Ever: The Midnight Special by Leadbelly
Victoria Joyce
Of course, Soul Asylum's hit "Runaway Train" but way lesser known:
open.spotify.com/track/3VLKARX7hcRSbr9KZ4KkRH?si=RP_8WlabS4qyl1JKqzJYQQ Joe Perry's "rockin' train."
Alice Cooper's 'a runaway train"
open.spotify.com/track/1vgkzkJmHH3LaMFeiJruXF?si=F4bHRoTISP67kZGdejnCyg Katherine Turman
Koerner Ray & Glover :: Southbound Train
The guitar riff that leads it off was also used by The Doors on “Love Me Two Times,” probably thanks to Paul Rothchild, who produced both groups.
No videos of Koerner Ray & Glover doing this exist on YouTube, but this is from their Wikipedia page :::
Spider John Koerner and Tony Little Sun Glover met one spring day over 40 years ago, in Dave Ray's Greenwich Village apartment. Over the next three years Koerner, Ray & Glover would record five seminal folk-blues albums for Elektra Records, play at the Newport and Philadelphia Folk Festivals and inspire musicians yet to come. (Dylan wrote of Koerner's impact on his early days in Dinkytown, The Doors "borrowed" Koerner & Glover's recording of Johns "Southbound Train" as the basis for their hit "Love Me Two Times".)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsP6EKAzEjI Muddy Waters :: Southbound Train
Different song, different train.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D5-qsfEk4w Mink DeVille : A Train Lady
David Forman’s beautiful tale of love on the subway. From Return To Magenta.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFcrbTVSGO4 Keith & Tex:: Stop That Train
Are there trains in Jamaica? I lie awake nights thinking about this...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnQTGNcNpI4 Bob Scaggs wi/Duane Allman :: Waiting On A Train
From Box Scaggs’ first album after leaving The Steve Miller Band. Duane Allman sitting in.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OXlpgZoS2c Lord Buckley :: The Train
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3vbxeBvaU0 Randy Newman w/ Ry Cooder :: Gone Dead Train
From PERFORMANCE. Written by Jack Nitzsche & Russ Titelman. Perfect in every way.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug1XU-XvjBI The Valentines :: Woo Woo Train
"Bye bye baby, move on down the line…."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QivUvScv2wM Tom T Hall :: I Miss A Lot Of Trains
"I used to lie awake like you, calling out your name…now I sleep good, and I miss a lot of trains."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8SoNxdBZP4 Iris Dement’s version is definitive, but I need them both.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aBOrOGvmnU Serpent Power ::: Endless Tunnel
Sounds like Country Joe & The Fish in grad school. In a good way. And a bad way.
David Meltzer’s long, shaggy dog story : “Mr conductor tell me where are we going…"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2ct-E8EgzI Brian Cullman
Weirdly, I don’t think anybody mentioned “No Expectations” by the Rolling Stones. Even weirder, I didn’t mention it as it’s a song a play often at my gigs.
Here’s even more from searching my hard drive with the word “train”.
“Railroad Train Runnin’ Up My Back” by producer John Simon on his obscure solo record. He produced the Band’s eponymous LP. An acquired taste.
”Blue Railroad Train” by Doc Watson.
“Southbound Train” by Mountain (on the Woodstock box).
“Freedom Train” Lenny Kravitz
“I Got the Train Sittin’ Waitin’ “ by Waylon Jennings
"I’ll Take The Train" by REM
“Jumping On Someone Else’s Train” by the Cure
“Keep This Train Rollin’ “ by the Doobie Brothers
“Midnight Train” by Vince Gill
“Night Train To Memphis” Dolly Parton
"St. Agnes and the Burning Train” by Sting
“Stop That Train” Bob Marley
“This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore” Elton John
"Train Carried My Girl From Town” Kelly Joe Phelps
"Woody And Dutch On The Slow Train To Peking” Rickie Lee Jones
“Yesterday’s Train” by the Byrds on their excellent “Untitled” album.
It’s kinda crazy how many train songs there are, that I actually know of, but never think about. And some so worth remembering.
Thanks, Mr. Lefsetz for kickstarting this.
Scott Sechman
Glad another mentioned Savoy Brown’s Hellbound Train. I actually used it in one of my posts attacking an earlier iteration of Congestion Pricing in NYC. Another time I used It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry.
Also happy that John Hartman mentioned Poco’s Legend (with the link!)
I would add to that Poco’s Running Horse (from the LP of same name) and from same CD, Paul’s Cotton’s Every Time I Hear That Train which I also used for another one of my posts v. the "Congestion Tax".
Cotton also penned Ride The Country from the A Good Feelin’ to Know LP (Live version also worth a listen.).
Surprised no one mentioned the New Riders’Glendale Train
and of course Orange Blossom Special, a fave of country and blue grass artists covered by many county rock acts of our era including Seatrain, Old and In The Way and later iterations of the (Rick Robert fronted) Burritos, and southern rocker Charlie Daniels.
Also (double checking my Apple Music)
Dead’s Big Railroad Blues
Cat Steven’s Peace Train
Laura Nyro’s Poverty Train
(Not sure this counts) Difford & Tilbrook’s Wagon Train
Poco (Paul Cotton) Railroad Days
Creedence Graveyard Train
Because the early senders did not include links and I’ll have some fun developing a train playlist (on youtube and Apple Music of my fave such songs:
Free’s Catch A Train
Joni Mitchell’s Just Like This Train
It’ll be fun.
Thx for the idea. Need a diversion from my day job that often extends to the eve and of course the politics world.
Corey B. Bearak, Esq.
Bob,
Did anybody add “Train in Vain’ by The Clash..
Or one that I mixed ‘Trains’ by Porcupine Tree??
Cheers,
Tim Palmer
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