Long Steel Rail: The Railroad in American Folksong

Norm Cohen

University of Illinois Press, 2000 - Music - 710 pages

Impeccable scholarship and lavish illustration mark this landmark study of American railroad folksong. Norm Cohen provides a sweeping discussion of the human aspects of railroad history, railroad folklore, and the evolution of the American folksong. The heart of the book is a detailed analysis of eighty-five songs, from "John Henry" and "The Wabash Cannonball" to "Hell-Bound Train" and "Casey Jones," with their music, sources, history, and variations, and discographies. A substantial new introduction updates this edition.

Contents

• The Railway Cars Are Coming A Brief History of the Railroads in the United States: 3
• Americas Music Written and Recorded: 21
• Railroad March to City of New Orleans A Sesquicentennial of Railroad Songs: 39
• Heroes and Badmen: 58
• John Henry: 61
• Jim Fisk: 90
• Jesse James: 97
• Cole Younger: 117
• Railroad Bill: 122
• Casey Jones: 132
• Ben Dewberrys Final Run: 158
• J C Holmes Blues: 163
• The Crime of the DAutremont Brothers: 166
• The Fatal Run: 169
• The Fatal Run: 181
• The Wreck on the C OEngine 143: 183
• The Wreck of the Old 97: 197
• The New Market Wreck: 227
• Billy Richardsons Last Ride: 232
• The Wreck of the C O Number Five: 236
• The Wreck of the 1256: 240
• The Freight Wreck at AltoonaThe Wreck of the 1262: 243
• The Wreck of the Royal Palm: 247
• The Wreck of the Virginian Number Three: 250
• The Wreck of Number Four: 254
• The True and Trembling Brakeman: 257
• The Little Red Caboose behind the Train I: 261
• The Wreck of the C O Sportsman: 264
• The Wreck of Number Nine: 267
• Asleep at the Switch: 275
• Asleep at the Switch: 276
• Bill Mason: 282
• Papas Billy GoatRosenthals Goat: 288
• Hes Coming to Us Dead: 296
• Hes Coming to Us Dead: 300
• In the Baggage Coach Ahead: 304
• Going for a PardonThe Eastbound Train: 316
• Please Mr ConductorThe Lightning Express: 321
• The Red arid Green Signal LightsThe Engineers Child: 326
• Jim Blakes Message: 332
• 29: 338
• The Evening Train: 341
• In a Boxcar around the World: 343
• Because He Was Only a Tramp: 347
• The Poor Tramp Has to Live: 351
• Waiting for a TrainWild and Reckless Hobo: 355
• The Dying Hobo: 367
• The Wabash Cannonball: 373
• The Little Red Caboose behind the Train II: 382
• Milwaukee Blues: 385
• The Railroad Boomer: 390
• Hobo Bills Last Ride: 393
• In a Boxcar around the World: 397
• Ive Got the Railroad Blues: 400
• KC RailroadKC Moan: 406
• Cannonball BluesWhitehouse Blues: 413
• The Train That Carried My Girl from Town: 426
• That Lonesome Train Took My Baby Away: 431
• Special AgentRailroad Police Blues: 435
• How Long How Long Blues: 437
• The Southern Blues: 441
• I Hate That Train Called the M O: 444
• Freight Train Blues I: 446
• Railroad Blues I: 450
• Train Whistle Blues: 452
• Railroad Blues II: 456
• A Railroader for Me: 459
• A Railroader for Me: 461
• New River Train: 466
• The Rock Island Line: 472
• The Midnight Special: 478
• On the Dummy Line: 485
• The Longest TrainIn The Pines: 491
• Reubens TrainTrain 45900 Miles: 503
• Blow Yo Whistle Freight Train: 519
• Freight Train: 521
• Freight Train Blues II: 524
• Railroading on the Great Divide: 528
• Working on the Railroad: 530
• Ive Been Working on the Railroad: 537
• Jerry Go Ile That Car: 543
• Paddy Works on the Railway: 547
• Drill Ye Tarriers Drill: 553
• Way Out in Idaho: 560
• The Night Express: 567
• Nine Pound Hammer: 571
• The Little Red Caboose behind the Train III: 583
• The Virginian Strike of 23: 591
• Lifes Railway to Heaven: 596
• Im Going Home to Die No MoreThe Railway Spiritualized: 605
• Lifes Railway to Heaven: 611
• The Gospel Train Is ComingGet on Board: 619
• Little Black Train: 625
• This TrainSame Train: 629
• When the Train Comes Along: 633
• The Gospel Cannonball: 636
• The HellBound Train: 638
• Worksongs and Instrumental: 645
• Recommended Albums of Railroad Songs: 652
• Bibliography: 659
• Index: 691

About the author

Norm Cohen worked for the Chemical Kinetics Department at the Aerospace Corporation in Los Angeles. His books include American Folk Songs: A Regional Encyclopedia. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and son and teaches chemistry and folk music part time.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Long Steel Rail: The Railroad in American Folksong; Music in American life
• Author: Norm Cohen
• Editors: Norm Cohen, David Cohen
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press, 2000
• ISBN: 0252068815, 9780252068812
• Length: 710 pages
• Subjects: Music / Genres & Styles / Folk & Traditional; Music / History & Criticism; Social Science / Folklore & Mythology; Transportation / Railroads / History