Freight Train, a Classic Train Song from Family Garden Trains^TM

Elizabeth Cotton grew up with her brothers alongside a rail yard. They played near the tracks and knew the fireman, the brakeman, and the conductor for one of the daily routes.

They also played music together, Elizabeth teaching herself to play a right-handed guitar left-handed. This is a song she wrote when she was about twelve.

Years later, she became a housekeeper for the Seeger family, while Pete, Mike, and Peggy were still small children. As they grew up, they learned to appreciate her talent.

Here is one version of the lyrics, based on Mike Seeger's liner notes for the album Freight Train and Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes.

Freight train, Freight train, run so fast
Freight train, Freight train, run so fast
Please don't tell what train I'm on;
They won't know what route I've gone;

When I am dead and in my grave
No more good times here I crave.
Place the stones at my head and feet
Tell them all that I've gone to sleep.

When I die, Lorde, bury me deep
Way down on old Chestnut street.
Then I can hear old Number 9
As she comes rolling by.

You-Tube Videos of This Song

So if you click on one of the links and there's nothing there, just enter the name of the artist and song in the YouTube search bar, and you'll probaby find it or something like it under another link.

So the links that were working when I visited this last are:

• Elizabeth Cotton - her voice isn't as strong as it used to be, but she can still pick in this video.

• Pete Seeger in concert, using his 12-string.

• Mike Seeger telling about his experience meeting Elizabeth Cotton, then plays the song in a singalong at a concert.

• Nancy Whiskey and the Charles McDevvitt Skiffle Group - Skiffle was the UK parallel to the US Folk Revival movement, incorporating washboards and other aspects of traditional UK street performers (the kind parodied in the "Supercalifragilistic" part of Disney's Mary Poppins). If that sounds like a weird mashup, you may find this version a little disturbing. But keep in mind that George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon's first group was a skiffle band and George used to play the washboard until his fingers bled.

• Joan Baez' live version; unfortunatly it shows only a still photo.

Whatever else you get out of our pages, I hope you come away with some great ideas for "sharing the joy."

And please stay in touch!

    - Paul Race

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