Train Songs

[LittleSable]

I'm a big fan of train songs, and I'm interested to hear what other people consider to be some of the best train songs, both older and newer.

On the newer side, I love:

Long Black Train - Josh Turner
Train Travelin- Dierks Bentley

[Chris D]

I've been partial to "Rhythm of the Wheels" from Rhonda Vincent's All American Bluegrass Girl. I like how the the song sounds like a train itself, and it's a nice uptempo song in general.

[Peter Durward Harris]

Yes, I have a soft spot for train songs. The theme has come up on other forums where I've participated. I've also done a stack of reviews of train song compilations as well as books about trains. Although I'm not as bothered about trains generally as I was in my younger days, I set up a little blog here

http://peterdurwardharris1.blogspot.com/2007/10/trains.html

I'll leave you to amuse yourself with it.

[Brody]

Guy Clark - Desperadoes Waiting For a Train
It's not soley about trains, but it's a badass song and has been covered by numerous artists including the Highwaymen.

Texas-1947 - Guy Clark
Train #10 - Tim McGraw
Runaway Train - Dale Watson
City of New Orleans - Willie Nelson
I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow - Hank Williams
Wabash Cannonball - Roy Acuff

Engine 143 - The Carter Family
If I remember right this was the last song Johnny Cash recorded, too. (edit: Wikipedia says it was)

Like The 309 - Johnny Cash
Hey Porter - Johnny Cash
Rock Island Line - Johnny Cash
Orange Blossom Special - Johnny Cash

Actually, Johnny Cash has a concept album titled Ride This Train. The songs aren't about trains, but in between tracks he tells stories over the sound of a locomotive.

I'll save a few for everyone else to mention

[Stormy]

Allison Moorer--Long Black Train
And The Waifs wrote a lovely song called Bridal Train about the Train that ran around Australia picking up the women who had married WWII American soldiers while stationed there to ship them to the states.

[Occasional Hope]

John Anderson, Jesse Clay And The 12.05

[Hollerin Ben]

I actually thought that Long Black Train was kind of lame.

it's hard to beat the Guy Clark train songs, Desperadoes is pretty high up on the "best songs of all time" list for me.

but yeah, City of New Orleans.

Hey Porter and Rock Island Line are freakin' classic too.

Townes' White Freightlines Blues, but I don't think it's actually about Trains.

Billy Joe - Georgia on a Fast Train.

I love the Billy Joe to Brenda one of the times she was going to leave "I wish you were leaving on a Train, then I could write a song about it". He's something like a prophet.

man, country music is so good.

[Hollerin Ben]

oh yeah, "wreck of the old 97" so rad.

[Sam G]

A couple latter-day train song favorites:
Scott Miller & The Commonwealth - Amtrak Crescent
Kevin Welch - Long Cold Train
Prairie Oyster - One Way Track

This may be my Chicago folkie upbringing, but I always thought Steve Goodman's version of "City of New Orleans" was the definitive one.

[Hollerin Ben]

man, I keep thinking about these...

Train Song by Todd Snider, though again it's not really about trains.

[Brady]

"That Lonesome Song" - Jamey Johnson
"The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore" - Kathy Mattea

Those are just a couple good ones that popped into my head that no one has mentioned yet.

[scooter]

Try "long black train" by Allison Moorer - not the same as the Josh Turner song

[Brody]

Mystery Train - Dwight Yoakam
You can find version from Emmylou Harris and Elvis, too.

Train of Love - Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Gilmore has a nasally sound that isn't for everyone, but he's one of my favorite vocalists.

[Matt B]

Allison Moorer sings "Orphan Train" on "Mockingbird"

Amy LaVere - Time Is A Train (from "Anchors and Anvils")
A Train Not Running - Chris Knight
The Sounds of Trains - Dan DeMay (available on eMusic)
How Long is This Train - Dan Tyminski
The Train - Jimmy Baldwin (Cowboy & The Mermaid)
Runaway Train - Kasey Chambers (Barricades & Brickwalls)
That Train Don't Run - Pinmonkey
Slow Train Comin' - Pinmonkey
Slow Train - Shooter Jennings
Midnight Train To Memphis - Steeldrivers
Train #10 - Tim McGraw
Trains I Missed - Walt Wilkins
Black Train - Pinmonkey
I Can't Turn That Train Around - Paul Jefferson
Train Song - Mindy Smith




Other non country songs
Runaway Train - Soul Asylum
Runaway Train - Steven Delopoulos (a different song)
Crazy Train- Ozzy
Stop This Train - John Mayer
Runaway Train - Jamie Scott & The Town (UK band)

[Brody]

Somebody used the search feature in their media player.

[Matt B]

guilty

[scooter]

Don't forget the trains - Asleep at the wheel
My baby thinks shes a train- asleep at the wheel, Rosanne Cash
I've been to Georgia on a fast train- Billy Joe Shaver
Folsom prison blues- johnny cash

[pwdennis]

1. I'm Movin' On - Hank Snow
2. Waiting For A Train - Jimmie Rodgers
3. Last Train To Memphis - Roy Acuff
4. The Wabash Cannonball - Roy Acuff
5. Georgia On A Fast Train - Billy Joe Shavers
6. Pan American - Hank WIlliams
7. The Golden Rocket - Hank Snow
8. Train of Love - Johnny Cash
9. Trains Make Me Lonesome - SKO
10. Railroad Lady - Left Frizzell

I actually could go on all day on this topic