A critic is a gong at a railroad crossing clanging loudly and vainly as the train goes by.
quote by Christopher Morley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Railroad
Up each morning at five oclock,
Seem like the noon-day sun aint never gonna stop.
The work is hard in a railroad yard,
Hey, hey, gotta make it today to punch a time card.
Workin on the railroad.
Chorus
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
Dirt and sweat, runnin down my back,
Workin on the railroad.
Work all day long up and down the railroad tracks.
Workin on the railroad.
Im a God fearing man, and with many I stand,
Workin on the railroad.
And with God weve been working, all hand in hand.
Workin on the railroad.
Chorus
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Workin on the railroad.
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
Workin on the railroad.
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
song performed by by Grand Funk Railroad
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Railroad Bill
Railroad bill were gonna railroad bill
He never works and he never will
Im gonna ride on a railroad bill
Im gonna ride on a railroad bill
Railroad bill he was a mighty bad man
Kill anybody that he think he can
Gonna ride old railroad bill
Gonna ride old railroad bill
Im singin railroad bill,
Im talkin railroad bill, uh-huh-huh
He never worked and he never will
Im gonna ride on railroad bill, yeah
(cmon) Im gonna ride on railroad bill
Well old railroad bill he done stole my wife
Im gonna check him down Im gonna take his life
Gonna ride on railroad bill
Gonna ride railroad bill
Im singin railroad bill
On a railroad bill
He never worked and he never will
Im gonna ride on railroad bill
Im gonna ride on railroad bill
Railroad bill he was a mighty bad man
Kill anybody that he think he can
Gonna ride old railroad bill
Gonna ride railroad bill
Im talkin railroad bill
I love him railroad bill
Uh-huh-huh
He never worked and he never will
Gonna ride on railroad bill
Yeah, gonna ride on railroad bill
Well Im goin up the mountain
Yes Im goin out west
I got a mighty big pistol
Stickin out of my vest
Gonna ride old railroad bill
Gonna ride (alright)
Railroad bill, I love that railroad bill
Uh-huh-huh
He never works and he never will
Im gonna ride on a railroad bill
Im gonna ride on railroad bill
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Boomers Story
(traditional, adapted by ry cooder)
Come and gather all around me
Listen to my tale of woe
Got some good advice to give you
Lots of things you oughta know
Take a tip from one whos travelled
And never stopped a-ramblin round
cause once you get the roamin fever
You never want to settle down, boy
You never want to settle down
I met a little gal in frisco
And I asked her to be my wife
Told her I was tired of roamin
Goin to settle down for life
Then I heard the whistle blowin
And I knew it was the red ball train
And I left that gal beside the railroad
And I never saw the gal again, boy
I never saw the gal again
Saw the gal again
I never saw the gal again
Left that gal beside the railroad
And I never saw the gal again
Travelled all over the country
Ive travelled everywhere
I been on every branch line railroad
And I never paid a nickel fare
I been from maine to californy
And from canada to mexico
I never tried to save no money
And now I got no place to bo, boy
Now I got no place to go
Listen to a boomers story
Pay attention to what I say
Well, I hear another train a-comin
Guess Ill be on my way
If you wanna do me a favor
When I lay me down and die
Just dig my grave beside the railroad
So I can hear the trains go by, boys
So I can hear the trains go by
Hear the trains go
Hear the trains go by
Just dig my grave beside the railroad
So I can hear the trains go by
song performed by by Ry Cooder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Railroad Man
I feel like an old railroad man
Ridin' out on the Bluemont Line
Hummin' along Old Dominion Blues
Not much to see, and not much left to lose
And I know I can walk along the tracks
It may take a little longer
But I know how to find my way back
I feel like an old railroad man
Who's really tried the best that he can
To make his life add up to something good
But this engine no long burns on wood
And I guess I may never understand
The times that I live in
Are not made for a railroad man
I feel like an old railroad man
Gettin' on board at the end of an age
The station's empty and the whistle blows
Things are faster now
This train is just too slow
And I know I can walk along the tracks
It may take a little longer
But I know how to find my way back
song performed by by Eels
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wave Your Flag & Stop The Train
Wave your flag and stop the train
Stop the train
Stop the train
Wave your flag and stop the train
Stop the train
Stop the train
Someone just pull the little chain
Girl in my compartment lost her mind
Stop the train
Stop the train
Tried to throw herself upon the line
I cant see you leaving her behind
She doesnt quite remember who I am
Stop the train stop the train
Committing suicide was more her plan
When she was attached to another man
Wave your flag and stop the train
Stop the train
Stop the train
Someone just pull the little chain
Tried to tell the signal man in time
She still trying to jump out on the line
I cant see you leaving her behind
I cant figure out whats with her mind
I cant figure that shes out of time (? )
I see her reflection on the line
Stop the train
Stop the train
Gates and railroad stations passing me by
I cant see you leaving her behind
Wave your flag and stop the train
Stop the train
Stop the train
Wave your flag and stop the train
Stop the train
Stop the train
Someone just pull the little chain
Please wave your flag and stop the train
Youve gotta wave your flag and stop the train
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Last Train To Clarkesville
Take the last train to Clarksville,
And I'll meet you at the station.
You can be be there by four thirty,
'Cause I made your reservation.
Don't be slow, oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
'Cause I'm leavin' in the morning
And I must see you again
We'll have one more night together
'Til the morning brings my train.
And I must go, oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.
Take the last train to Clarksville.
I'll be waiting at the station.
We'll have time for coffee flavored kisses
And a bit of conversation.
Oh... Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
Take the last train to Clarksville,
Now I must hang up the phone.
I can't hear you in this noisy
Railroad station all alone.
I'm feelin' low. Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.
Take the last train to Clarksville,
Take the last train to Clarksville,
[repeat and fade
song performed by by Monkees
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man
(traditional)
Good morning, mr. railroad man
What time do your trains roll by ?
"at 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes 'till 5"
"at 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes 'till 5"
Thank you, mr. railroad man
I want to watch your trains go by
Standing on a platform, smoking a cheap cigar
And waiting for an old freight train that carries an empty car
Well, i pulled my hat down over my eyes
And i walked across the tracks
And i caught me the end of an old freight train
And i never did come back
Well, i sat down in a gamblin' game
But i could not play my hand
I was thinkin' about the woman i loved
Run away with another man, poor boy
Run away with another man
I was thinking about the woman that i loved
Run away with another man
song performed by by Ry Cooder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Let It Rock
In the heat of the day, down in mobile, alabama
Workin on the railroad with a steel drivin hammer
Tryin to get some money, get some brand new shoes
Tryin to find a lady, chase away my blues
Hot and wasted lord sweatin in the sun
cause Im not a foreman till my work is all done
Later in the evening when the sun is sinking low
Ill be out there waitin for the whistle to blow
Sittin in the teepee smokin out on the track
Rollin them bones (meaning dice) till my foreman get back
Suddenly I hear the breakman up and shout
Theres a non-stop train comin two miles out
Everybody jumpin and a scrambling around
Tryin to get the line an get the teepee down
Railroad owners bout to go insane
Tryin to get the workers out the way of the train
Here come the engineer honk his horn
He got a non-stop train, we got to let it roll on!
song performed by by Bob Seger
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Long Lost John
-hmm, I think the piano maybe is better, I just realised the ......? ..........hmm....hello, yoko...yeah!.
Well, hes long, long, lost john
Long, long, lost john.
Lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the top
Well, hes long, long, lost john
Yeah, long, long, lost john.
Well, lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the top
Well, hes long, long, long lost john
Well, hes long, long, lost john.
Well, lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the.......
Well, long, long, long john
Well, oh yeah.
I got it about at half past three
You dont look out, shes gonna spew on me
Im gonna run, railroad bill
Im gonna ru....
-hello, richard? mo, mo, Im different, thats one of the problems with it
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Long Lost John
-hmm, I think the piano maybe is better, I just realised the ......? ..........hmm....hello, yoko...yeah!.
Well, hes long, long, lost john
Long, long, lost john.
Lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the top
Well, hes long, long, lost john
Yeah, long, long, lost john.
Well, lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the top
Well, hes long, long, long lost john
Well, hes long, long, lost john.
Well, lost john standing by the railroad track
A-waitin for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
Lost john thought hed have to ride the.......
Well, long, long, long john
Well, oh yeah.
I got it about at half past three
You dont look out, shes gonna spew on me
Im gonna run, railroad bill
Im gonna ru....
-hello, richard? mo, mo, Im different, thats one of the problems with it
song performed by by Yoko Ono
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Railroad Days
Jan would climb up so high on the foul screen
Down below I would yell to watch out
When we'd play ? was always the winner
He was brave never listened to me shout
Afternoons playin' ball by the old wall
Hidin' out and of course be the star
Kept my records in old looseleaf notebooks
And today I think I still know where they are
Oh, Railroad days
Railroad days
Railroad days
When I was young, in my prime
On my way
When the rain never got in my way
oh in my younger railroad days
Some nights, Drifters playin' on the hi-fi
Talkin' 'bout girls, or preposterous lies
Laughin hard, watchin' Soupy at eleven
Skonkin' down, one of Mom's lemon pies
Ten o'clock, bringin' groceries from the market
Singin songs, to the darkness of the night
Even sang the parts the instruments were playing
Life was freer, dreams were really quite all right
Oh, Railroad days
Railroad days
Railroad days
When the sun seemed to smile on it's way
When the darkness was easier to play yeah
oh in my younger railroad days
Yesterday, I heard they shut the trains down
The ones than ran, by the field where I would play
Said the folks want new and faster transportation
It's just like me, I'll be obsolete one day
Oh, Railroad days
Railroad days
Railroad days
When I was young, in my prime
On my way
When the rain never got in my way
oh in my younger railroad days
song performed by by Bob Seger
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Railroad
Im packin my bags and goin home
I been here too long
So happy , Ill get there on my own , mmm..
Been here for reasons right or wrong
So Im packin my bag and Im gettin home
So Ill walk by the railroad anytime, anytime
Walk by the railroad anytime
Tell my brother and my sister that evrythings gone wrong
But Im walkin by that railroad till Im home
Theres been lies told in my story
But aint juiced none of that glory
But still, I served my time
And theres no use in cryin
cause Im walkin by that railroad till Im home
So Ill walk by the railroad anytime , anytime
Walk by the railroad anytime
Tell my women that I missed her
That I cant wait to kiss her
So Im walkin by that railroad till Im home
Yes Ill walk by the railroad anytime , anytime
Walk by the railroad anytime
Tell my women that I missed her
And I cant wait to kiss her
cause Im walkin by that railroad till Im home
Yes Im walkin by that railroad till Im home
song performed by by Bee Gees
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Last Train To Clarksville
Words and music by
Tommy boyce and bobby hart
Take the last train to clarksville,
And Ill meet you at the station.
You can be be there by four thirty,
cause I made your reservation.
Dont be slow, oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
cause Im leavin in the morning
And I must see you again
Well have one more night together
til the morning brings my train.
And I must go, oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
And I dont know if Im ever coming home.
Take the last train to clarksville.
Ill be waiting at the station.
Well have time for coffee flavored kisses
And a bit of conversation.
Oh... oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
Take the last train to clarksville,
Now I must hang up the phone.
I cant hear you in this noisy
Railroad station all alone.
Im feelin low. oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
And I dont know if Im ever coming home.
Take the last train to clarksville,
Take the last train to clarksville,
[repeat and fade]
song performed by by Monkees
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Train Is Coming
My train is coming
I can see it up the line
My train is coming
And whats on its all mine
My train is coming
I can hear it up the track
My train is coming
Bringing sugar time back
Oh little darling
Since youve gone Ive been so sad and blue
Little darling
If you come home Ill be good to you
Got to get it while its here
Thats a lesson that is clear
Got to get it while its here
And I hear
My train is coming
I can see it up the line
My train is coming
And whats on its all mine
Little darling
Since youve gone I realized Im wrong
Little darling
Ride that railroad back where you belong
Got to get it while its here...
My train is coming
I can see it up the line
My train is coming
And its right back on time
My train is coming
What I did is a crime
My train is coming
And whats on its all mine
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Travel
The railroad track is miles away,
And the day is loud with voices speaking,
Yet there isn't a train goes by all day
But I hear its whistle shrieking.
All night there isn't a train goes by,
Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming,
But I see its cinders red on the sky,
And hear its engine steaming.
My heart is warm with friends I make,
And better friends I'll not be knowing;
Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take,
No matter where it's going.
poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Man’s best friends as crossing guards
The ashy dust settled gracefully
On the blue flame
While the supersonic train walked slowly
As if a glamorous fashion show was taken place
At the behest of the anorexic supermodel
Who got tripped on the narrow one way.
Like a thin thread, the man-made centipede
Waned effortlessly
Before acquainting
The passengers who stood perplexed
Despite the ken of the speed
Of this incredible flying machine.
Not too far from the kiosk of the train station
Two dogs came running like crossing guards
To stop two shy lads playing hooky
From crossing the dangerous tracks.
poem by Hebert Logerie
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Crossing The Border
Hey, take it and run, child
Ill ask you no questions
We traded our fortunes
Crossing the border
I hope you got lucky
You needed a change
I--i made it without you
Crossing the border
We were like a couple of wetbacks running
Standin on the banks of some dangerous river
Lookin into a brave new country
Risky business
Crossing the border
Ahhh, you--you doubled my chances
I--i sure do want your freedom
I--Ill never forget you
Crossing the border
Back when we were out there
Crossing the border
Layin it on the line
Crossing the border
song performed by by Kris Kristofferson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Barricades & Brickwalls
Barricades and brickwalls won't keep me
from you
You can tie me down on the railroad
track
You can let that freight train lose
Iron bars and big ole cars
Won't run me out of town
I'll be damned if you're not my man
Before the sun goes down
You can chain me down
On the edge of town
You can leave me there to die
But the railroad track
Will bring me back
When the lonesome whistle cries
You can lock me out
You can scream and shout
You can try to change your name
But by the end of the day
I'll take you away
Like a force 10 hurricane
song performed by by Kasey Chambers from Barricades & Brickwalls
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Wicket Cricket Critic
If the cricket critics' nagging
Merits stern official gagging
Which I doubt
How would critical ascetics,
With their prosy homiletics,
Shut it out?
And the question then arises:
If more cricketing surprises,
Such as bodyline, begin to threaten cricket,
And another stunt, when sprung,
Call for clicking of the tongue,
Should a cricket critic critically click it?
When the barrackers grow lyric
In a manner most satiric
And profane,
How, one ventures still to wonder,
May the clamor be kept under?
How restrain?
For one barbaric larrik-
In can do a lot of barrack-
In', and cause a lot of worry at the wicket.
But would sportsmen be abusing
Cricket canons in refusing
To supply that cricket critic with a ticket?
As a critic analytic
Of the cricket critics' critic
I would say,
When we criticise their cricket,
Then the players have to stick it,
Come what may.
No specific soporific
May be used; for it is diffic-
Ult to strike a critic partly paralytic.
So there's nothing gained in seeking,
As I know; and I am speaking
As a critic of the cricket critic's critic.
poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Midnight Train
The Midnight Train to nowhere is boarding-
My life-long luggage has already been brought on-
The tracks of non-mobility are ready and waiting-
To sings its droning railroad song;
Its quite catchy to the ears they tell me-
As the trains roars itself in place upon the tracks-
Bidding my final farewells to everyone-
Turning my head-with plans to never look back;
They say that this train will get you nowhere-
And you know i believe this to be true-
Non-riding the tracks-ignoring the facts-
I'm on my way back home to you;
You are at the end of my nowhere-
Been there for so very long-
Just biding your time with your prose and rhyme-
While i write this here Railroad Song;
Oh -the Midnight Train to nowhere is not flyin'-
In stationary movement upon its nowhere tracks-
Hummin' its Chatanooga Choo Choo melody-
And me-vowing never to look back;
Staying in one place-stationary-
Really movin' nowhere in real time-
Know that you are there waitin' on me-
Writin' your rhyme at the end of the line;
Just A Silly Poem.
June 22,2010
poem by Theodora Onken
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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