THE TEXAS SILVER ZEPHYR
Written by - Russell Steagall
Recorded by Hank Snow
She was a young and pretty Coleman county farm girl
Never been more than fifty miles from home
I was just a drifter I was living off the land
Spent the summer on her daddy's farm
In the evening we'd walk along the railroad
We'd hear that lonesome whistle in the night
And she'd pretend we road the rails to Denver
Cause' her head was full of flashin' neon lights
Twas' that big old shiny diesel as it rounded Carter's bend
Was enough to make a young girl want to roam
She'd pretend she rode those shiny rails all around the world
And had the Texas Silver Zephyr bring her home
As summer work was over and restless got to me
I kept talkin' 'bout the places I would go
Then her young head got to spinnin' for the things she'd never seen
So she followed me to Denver in the fall
Then jobs got scarce in central Colorado
And then the winter nights got awful cold
Just one old army blanket was the only one we had
No money for the oil to run the stove
Yes that big old shiny diesel as it rounded Carter's bend
Was enough to make a young girl want to roam
But through all those hungry nights the only promise that I made
I had the Texas Silver Zephyr take her home
When she started feelin' bad she didn't tell me
She had a way of keepin' problems all her own
So I didn't know her troubles with the baby
Before I could get a doctor she was gone
Lord I know it's not the way she really wanted things to be
In her dreams she had a pullman all her own
But she'd be proud of me to know I kept my promise
And had the Texas Silver Zephyr take her home
And had the Texas Silver Zephyr take her home
Train in the Distance
Paul Simon
She was beautiful as Southern skies
The night he met her
She was married to someone
He was doggedly determined that he would get her
He was old, he was young
From time to time he'd tip his heart
But each time she withdrew
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks it's true
Well eventually the boy and the girl get married
Sure enough they have a son
And though they both were occupied
With the child she carried
Disagreements had begun
And in a while they fell apart
It wasn't hard to do
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks it's true
Two disappointed believers
Two people playing the game
Negotiations and love songs
Are often mistaken for one and the same
Now the man and the woman
Remain in contact
Let us say it's for the child
With disagreements about the meaning
Of a marriage contract
Conversations hard and wild
But from time to time
He makes her laugh
She cooks a meal or two
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks it's true
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks it's true
What is the point of this story
What information pertains
The thought that life could be better
Is woven indelibly
Into our hearts
And our brains
Ruby's Arms
Tom Waits
I will leave behind all of my clothes,
I wore when i was with you,
all I need's my railroad boots,
and my leather jacket,
as i say goodbye to ruby's arms,
although my heart is breaking,
i will steal away out through your
blinds, for soon you will be waking.
The morning light has washed your face,
and everything is turning blue now,
hold on to your pillow case
there's nothing i can do now,
as i say goodbye to ruby's arms,
you'll find another soldier,
and i swear to god by christmas,
there'll be someone else to hold you.
The only thing i'm taking is
the scarf off of your clothesline,
i'll hurry past your chest of drawers,
and your broken window chimes,
as i say goodbye
i'll say goodbye,
say goodbye to ruby's arms.
i'll feel my way down the darken hall,
and out into the morning,
the hobos at the freightyards,
have kept their fires burning,
so jesus christ this goddamn rain,
will someone put me on a train,
i'll never kiss your lips again,
or break your heart,
as i say goodbye
i'll say goodbye,
say goodbye to ruby's arms.
Sergeant Small
Tex Morton
I went broke in Western Queensland in 1931,
Nobody would employ me so my swagging days begun.
I headed out through Charlieville to the western towns,
I was on my way to Roma, destination Darling Downs.
Hey my pants were getting ragged, my shoes were getting thin,
And when we stopped at Mitchell, a goods train shunted in,
The engine blew her whistle, I was looking I could see,
She was on her way to Roma, that was very plain to me.
And I wish that I was 16 stone and only 7 foot tall,
I'd go back to Western Queensland and beat up Sergeant Small.
Well as I sat and watched her, inspiration seemed to grow,
And I remember the Government slogan,
"It's the railway that you own."
So by this time the sun was setting and night was growing nigh,
So I gathered my belingings and I caught her on the fly.
And as we came into Roma, I kept my head down low,
I heard a voice say "any room mate" and I answered "plenty 'bo!"
Then out there stepped this noble man, the voice of Sergeant Small,
He said I've trapped you very nicely, you're headed for a fall.
And I wish that I was 16 stone and only 7 foot tall,
I'd go back to Western Queensland and beat up Sergeant Small.
The judge was very kind to me, he gave me 30 days,
He said maybe that would help to cure my rattler jumping ways.
So if you're down and outback let me tell you what I think,
Just stay off the Queensland railway, it's a short cut to the clink.
And I wish that I was 16 stone and only 7 foot tall,
I'd go back to Western Queensland and beat up Sergeant Small,
I'd go back to Western Queensland and beat up Sergeant Small.
ANNIVERSARY BLUE YODEL (BLUE YODEL #7)
For this song, Hank Snow tuned his guitar down a half note and played out of the C position (making the recording in B). The chords shown correspond to the chords that he actually used. (During this period, Hank recorded a number of songs with his guitar tuned low.)
[steel intro]
[C] I was a stranger passing through your [C7] town
[F] I was a stranger passing through your [C] town
Well I [G7] asked you a favor
Good gal you turned me [C] down
[C] You may see me out a walking talking down that railroad [C7] track
You may [F] see me out a walking talking down that railroad [C] track
But [G7] good gal you done me wrong
I ain't never coming [C] back
[ fiddle break ]
[C] I've rode that old Southern I've rode that L & [ C7] N
I've [F] rode that old Southern I've rode that L & [C] N
And if the [G7] police don't get me
I'm gonna ride them [C] again
[ guitar break 1]
[C] Some like Chicago some love Memphis Tenness-[C7]-ee
[F] Some like Chicago some love Memphis Tenness-[C]-ee
[G7] Hey pretty mama give me sweet Dallas Texas
Where the women think the world of [C] me
[ guitar break 2]
[C] I'm not singing the blues I'm just telling you the hard luck I've [C7] had
[F] I'm not singing the blues I'm just telling you the hard luck I've [C] had
Cause the [G7] blues ain't nothing
But a good man feeling [C] bad
FREIGHT TRAIN
(c) 1957 by Elizabeth Cotten. Sanga Music
Chorus:
Freight train, Freight train, run so fast
(rep.)
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.
3:10 To Yuma
There is a lonely train called the 3:10 to Yuma.
The pounding of the wheels is more like a mournful sigh,
There's a legend and there's a rumour, when you take the 3:10 to Yuma,
You can see the ghosts of outlaws riding by in the sky
Way up high the buzzards keep circlin the train,
While below the cattle are thirsting for rain,
It's all so true they say, on the 3:10 to Yuma.
A man may meet his fate for fate travels every way.
Though you've got no reason to go there,
And there aint a soul that you know there,
When the 3:10 to Yuma whistles its sad refrain.
Take that train.
******************
3:10 To Yuma
There is a lonely train called the 3.10 to Yuma.
And it's the only train left for me to ride on.
I'll catch that lonely train called the 3.10 to Yuma
I'll get my ticket now for my last time
They say the life of man is made up of four seasons
And springtime finds him young and planting his grain
And then the summer comes bringing warm rains of reason
And time to reap his crop of heartache and pain
The winter comes, finds him snow-cropped and laden
He has been humbled now, walking into the rain
But the rains of death never fall from the cloudless skies of Yuma
Time stand still for those on that 3.10 train
There is a lonely train called the 3.10 to Yuma
And it's the only train left for me to ride on
I'll catch that lonely train called the 3.10 to Yuma
I'll get my ticket now for my last time
****************************
3:10 To Yuma
I want to ride again on the 3.10 to Yuma
That's where I saw my love
The girl with the golden hair
Not a word between us was spoken
No the silence never was broken
But before she left her eyes said a sad goodbye
Sad am I sad am I
To think of the chance that I missed
I could cry to think of the lips left unkissed
Perhaps she'll ride again on the 3.10 to yuma
And I can meet my love and tell her how much I care
Though I have no reason to go there
And there's not a soul that I know there
When the 3.10 to yuma leaves if I have the fare
I'll be there I'll be there I'll be there.