Paul Simon said it – everybody loves the sound of trains in the distance. It’s a contradictory noise that can startle you awake, or soothe you to sleep. It’s mournful but hints at hope, both lonely and romantic. It’s the tempting call of freedom, and the plaintive howl of regret. I’d have a hard time choosing my favorite train song, there are so many. But if pressed I’d have to go with Freight Train, written by 11 year old Elizabeth Cotten, a self taught, left handed guitarist who began recording in her 60’s while working as a housekeeper for Pete Seeger.
Of course there’s the Steve Goodman penned, Arlo Guthrie hit City of New Orleans. Obvious yes, but hauntingly beautiful.
Thank you for your continued support of Deadsplinter and DUAN.
Low hanging fruit:
But the classics are classic for a reason!
Joe Satriani, “Perfect Dust”
This track is a riot. Bounces from a country lick to a sweet pop refrain — that I swear could be La Oreja De Van Gogh — and then out jumps a dead-to-rights QOTSA riff. It’s all embarrassingly effortless, like Satriani is tossing a cardboard box on the curb with a bunch of unsold hit singles ’cause he’s bored of looking at them.
That’s a wild ride, lol.
Arlo Guthrie – City of New Orleans:
oh damn…. I’ll try to redeem myself….
The Highwaymen (Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson} – City of New Orleans (Live at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY – March 1990)
I thought someone might post the Steve Goodman version.
Robert Earl Keen – Train Trek
I could have listed the entire catalog of the band Train, but thought that might be a bit much.
I’d rather listen to Robert Earl Keen than anything by Train.
I liked their first album, but they went super mainstream in a hurry after that.
My neighbor looks so much like the lead singer from Train when they were super popular he’d get asked about it all the time.
This one cracks me up tho:
Good choice – love him!
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Let’s Jump a Train
Ooh, good one!
I may have to do a whole DUAN on this guy sometime, King Khan and the Shrines – Train #8
You have my vote.
Mine too.
He is a wild dude!
We also lost another jazz great to Covid today, RIP Lee Konitz – I Remember You
Damn
The people we’ll have lost plus the inability to mourn is going to echo through our lives
Charles Howl – Garden Train
This is a new one for me, thanks!
This is great.
Very nice.
The Clash – Train in Vain
I was expecting this from someone. 🙂
since Hannibal had already posted “City of New Orleans.”
Soul Asylum – Runaway Train:
I’ve posted this one before – my fave REM – Driver 8. Also, I live right across the street from a railroad track. I love it. The sound doesn’t even wake me up at night. It’s fun to sit on my front porch and watch them roll through. I don’t know if that’s weird or not, but there it is.
I love this song. I don’t think it’s weird at all. If I could watch them from my porch I certainly would.
I had you down for this in my DUAN betting bracket
I almost did. Double or nothing: I’ll bet we both knew that Rickey Medlocke’s grandfather wrote it and played the harmonica intro, but I’ll bet neither one of us knew about this until now:
Nope, u got me on both. I had no idea.
You can’t go wrong with Dolly.
I finally got it dammit!
The O’Jays – Love Train:
Good one but I’ve been waiting for Gladys Knight
Yeah, too many train songs to choose from. So, I’m going left field. This is my favorite Cher song.
Cher – Train of Thought
I did not see this one coming!
No one’s gone here yet?
We have reggae for that!
Nice!!!
Or here?
I would’ve gone here:
or here:
The Psychedelic Furs – “Into You Like a Train”
Great choice.
Nobody got this one yet?
Or this one?
I knew I could count on you for the Elvis.
Brad Gillis might have been an interesting permanent replacement for Randy Rhoads. Unfortunately there “weren’t enough girls” in Ozzy’s audience and so he moved on to the travesty that was Night Ranger.
Oof, bad career choice.
It astounds me that we got *this* far unto it, before someone posted the most obvious one for the times (Ozzy😉)
You don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord.
No one’s mentioned this one yet. Rest in Peace Davy and Peter!
There are so many good train songs, I had to stop myself from posting them all in the intro!
Jerry Jeff Walker – Desperados Waiting For A Train
Please tell me I am not the only person who immediately thought of Quad City DJ’s as their first train related song…
I remembered this as I was scrolling and wondering if someone was going to post it. Thank you.
Definitely not my first train song, but I’m old!
You’re welcome! And perhaps it isn’t normally the first train related song to come to mind, but just so happened to float to the surface of the brain after a bottle of wine while under the pressure of quarantine. I may never know; the mind works in mysterious ways.
Solomon Burke wants to play:
Solomon Burke – one of the greats!
You can’t be neutral on a moving train:
This is too horribly true.
I’ve posted this before, but fits.
Great song.
Thank goodness, Luigi got us covered with Crazy Train, but y’all forgot some (and OF COURSE there’s a Jovi for it😉😁🤗);
My favorite version of this one;
Josh Turner:
The ‘Jovis:
My favorite of the ‘Jovi’s for this theme, ‘cuz it’s basically just a chance to hear Richie be amazing at what he does:
Brooks & Dunn:
Johnny:
And we CAN’T have a train theme, *WITHOUT BOXCAR WILLIE*!!!😉