The Current Music Blog: May 10, 2008 Archive

Train Songs

Posted at 3:20 PM on May 10, 2008 by Mark Wheat (16 Comments)

It's the very first National Train Day, the birth of transcontinental travel and an indication of how important the trains were to the development of the nation. Which is probably why there are so many 'train songs'. Not just with lyrics about the train but also musical references to its sound and rythm. A lot of early American music is based on it and it perpetuates today, despite the unfortunate demise of the nation's rail system.
I've always had a strange afinity for these songs, perhaps because my grandfather was an engine driver and I always loved travelling on them when young. Check this afternoons playlist for the ones I played and if you have a favourite, lyrically or sonically, I would love to get your suggestions to add to my ever growing list of train songs!

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