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Sunday, October 21, 2012

Train Songs

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)

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