No, this is not a post about the band Train even though I can always get down on some "Drops of Jupiter" or "Meet Virginia". I have always loved the theme of trains in American songwriting and how they have always been a staple mainly in the country, folk, and blues genres. Earlier this summer, I was fortunate to land an internship with an engineering firm in Nashville, and we primarily work on the short line railroads around Tennessee and surrounding southern states. Needless to say, I have been spending a substantial amount of time out on the railroad walking the track and checking out all the cool, old bridges. During these times, I can't help but reminisce about what it would have been like to live in a different era when traveling by train was commonplace. All these artists who present trains in their songwriting paint this romanticized picture of skipping town on a light night, southbound train. Check out some of my favorites.
-Kevin
Justin Townes Earle - Ghost of Virginia
Mandolin Orange - Train Song
Chatham County Line - Louisiana Freight Train
Blackfoot - Train, Train
Ben Harper - Fool for a Lonesome Train
Jon Foreman - Southbound Train
Old Crow Medicine Show - New Virginia Creeper
Scott Avett - I Won't Give Up My Train (Merle Haggard Cover)
Seth Avett - Miss A Lot of Trains (Tom T. Hall Cover)
Punch Brothers - Brakeman's Blues (Jimmie Rodgers Cover)
Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans is another good one
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