April 7, 2011
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Desperadoes Waiting for a Train

I received an email from my pal East Texas Red. Now he was concerned about me, concerned that I was going to run out of train songs, and he wanted to be sure I was going to land on my feet. East Texas Red kindly sent me a site full of mining song videos. I appreciate him looking out for me, but I just want to say I’m not quite done with the train songs just yet.

Today I’d like to feature a Guy Clark song, Desperadoes Waiting for a Train. Here’s Nancy Griffith with some friends…including Mr. Clark. I tried to embed this video as I normally do, but it wouldn’t embed. Maybe it’s some kind of conspiracy designed to thwart my effort to do so. I really don’t know. Maybe it’s my computer. Instead, watch it here.

I was going to post a few different versions of the song, but this one pretty much nails it. He sure writes some sweet songs, that Guy Clark.

 

April 6, 2011
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RIP Uncle Frank

Today we buried my uncle Frank. He was the last of my uncles standing, and I’ve always been tremendously fond of him. He had a good word for me, anytime I saw him, in his booming baritone voice. I admired his directness and the enjoyment he seemed to take in the everyday. Back when I was a kid, our extended family of cousins, uncles and aunts were pretty close. Over the years, as the kids all grew up, had new families, had careers, moved here and there, I saw less and less of uncles, aunts and cousins. I was busy having my own adventures and didn’t see what I was missing.

For several years Uncle Frank and Aunt Stella vacationed with my parents. They went to all kinds of places, sharing their love of travel. With the four of them together, a party was guaranteed, no matter where they went. I’m really glad they took those trips and enjoyed their travels while all of them still had their good health. And of course, I heard the stories repeated dozens of time from my father. He would string several vacation stories together, joining them with a conjunction and a quick breath.

Although today’s gathering was on the occasion of the loss of someone we loved, I none-the-less enjoyed the opportunity to hang out with my cousins for a few hours, sharing a few stories, getting caught up, at least a little. There’s plenty of catching up to do. Uncle Frank for me will always be the Uncle Frank of my youth, robust, opinionated, good-hearted. He was a good man and we’ll miss him.

Filed under: RIP
April 6, 2011
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Ridin’ that train…

I know you’ve been asking, is he really going to continue with that silly “train song a day” feature? The answer is yes, I’m not done yet. I hope you’re enjoying these.

There really was a Casey Jones, John Luther “Casey” Jones. He lived from 1863 to 1900 and he was a railroad engineer from Jackson Tennessee who worked for the Illinois Central. We all know his name because on April 30, 1900, he was killed after the Cannonball Express, the passenger train he was operating, crashed into a stalled freight at Vaughan Mississippi.

The Ballad of Casey Jones is perhaps part of our genetic code, even all the way up here in Canada. It was even morphed into a bit of a pop hit when the Grateful Dead sang, “Drivin’ that train, high on cocaine…”

Here are The Dead

Now let’s go back aways and listen to Billy Murray and Chorus

There was even a tv show starring Alan Hale in the late 50s.

I could post a lot of versions of this tune, but I’ll stop after Johnny Cash. Johnny also does the Orange Blossum Special in this clip. That kinda makes this a two train song day. I know I’m spoiling you, friends. Har!


April 6, 2011
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Treme

We didn’t see Treme when it started as a TV series but we forked up some Canadianos for the DVD of the first season as soon as it became available. A number of actors who have worked with David Simon previously on shows such as The Wire and The Corner and Homoside star in Treme along with the most wonderful John Goodman and local new Orleans celebrities such as Kermit Ruffins. The series is set in New Orleans, three months after Katrina and is about a city putting itself back together, and the gradual resurgence of New Orleans culture.

Fantastic!

April 5, 2011
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You knew it was coming….

With a train song a day, eventually the Wabash Cannonball would have to come around on the guitar. I’d like to feature a live performance by Mac Wiseman from 1957.

Wabash Cannonball is an old tune, originating in the late 19th century. It was popularized by The Carter Family and Roy Acuff in the 1930s. As the story goes, Paul Bunyan’s brother Cal (no, I’m not kidding) built a railroad that was 700 cars long. It went so fast that it arrived at its destination an hour before it departed. Now that’s fast. One day it took off into outer space and is still up there today.  Hobos called the train The Wabash Cannonball, and it’s whistle has been heard in every hobo jungle in America. The Wabash Cannonball is the freight you hop when you’ve tied your last bindle. It’s the train that takes you to the Big Rock Candy Mountain, to a better place beyond the cares of the world.

April 5, 2011
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Federal Election Hashtag Guide

Some people are calling our upcoming federal election the Twitter election, and I confess that I find following the tweets related to the whole business somewhat addictive. I came across a federal election hashtag guide, which is very handy in deciphering the curious language of Twitter and for finding the right places to look for all the nuggets. The two best hashtags for election goodies seem to be #elxn41 (it’s our 41st election) and #cdnpoli.

Twitter is such a curious tool. I can’t decide if I like it or hate it, really. On the positive side, it’s tremendously democratic. You make a tweet and it’s out there in the tweetosphere or whatever you call it. If you use a hashtag that others are using on a particular topic, you get to be in the game, along with journalists and celebrities and everybody else.  On the negative side, 140 characters is 140 characters. Also on the negative side, when a piece of fiction gets retweeted enough it gets treated as if it is fact. There have been several individuals “killed off” by Twitter in the last year, people who are very much alive in that other universe we call reality.

April 4, 2011
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Hey, let’s watch an old movie tonight…

Remember Red Rock West, the Jon Dahl film from the early 90s? It stars Nicolas Cage as Michael, Dennis Hopper as Lyle from Dallas, J.T. Walsh as Wayne and Lara Flynn Boyle as the lovely evil Suzanne.

Out of work Michael drives from Texas to Wyoming with the promise of a roughneck job that doesn’t pan out. He rolls into the town of Red Rock and on a tip, goes into the bar, looking for work. The bartender, Wayne, who also happens to be the sheriff, sees his Texas plates and believes Michael to be Lyle from Dallas, the hitman Wayne has hired to murder his wife Suzanne.

I’ve heard this film referred to as desert noir, and I suppose that’s a good description. I really like this movie a lot, and I’ve seen it a few times over the years. The performances are great. The pacing is excellent and the plot is wonderfully twisted. Red Rock West must have come and gone with little fanfare, as most people I know have never heard of it. I believe I watched it after the fact at the urging of my friend Candy, who suggested I watch all of Jon Dahl’s films. If you haven’t seen this one, it’s an excellent renter, highly recommended.

April 3, 2011
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Sunday’s Train

For today’s train song of the day, here’s Elizabeth Cotten with PeteSeeger performing Freight Train. Guitar pickers will notice right away that she plays guitar left-handed by simply turning it upside down, putting the high strings at the top.

Here’s a nice (but short) version by Peter Lang and John Fahey.

Finally, here’s a really strange take on the song by Duane Eddy.