Can you help me find this popular train song?
January 11, 2012 7:53 AM Subscribe
So there's this song about a man who drives steel for the railroad. His work kills him at the end. The version I'm thinking of was recorded sometime from the 50s to the 70s. It may be about John Henry, but it's none of the versions that begin, "When John Henry was a little baby..." Can you help me find this song? It also might not be about John Henry.
I've been through the obvious Google and YouTube searches. I've tried "train songs" and "John Henry." I've listened to dozens of variations on the John Henry theme, but had no luck. I've researched the history of the ballad form of the John Henry trope and the hammer song form. I've also been through dozens of lists of train songs.
I can tell you that the song was popular and almost certainly is played on oldies stations from time to time. It is not that obscure. But for some reason, I simply can't locate it. It's likely that this is an obvious song, and that nearly everyone in the U.S. over thirty has heard it.
Special snowflake detail: I have been known to obsess over a song for months, and search and search for it. I'll listen to all possible candidates, only to return to an early candidate that I'd listened to and decide that it is actually the song I was looking for, but simply not as good as I had remembered. So it's possible that it's actually something like Johnny Cash's "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer" or some other such thing and I just don't like it as much as I thought I did. But I don't think this is the case in this instance.
I've been through the obvious Google and YouTube searches. I've tried "train songs" and "John Henry." I've listened to dozens of variations on the John Henry theme, but had no luck. I've researched the history of the ballad form of the John Henry trope and the hammer song form. I've also been through dozens of lists of train songs.
I can tell you that the song was popular and almost certainly is played on oldies stations from time to time. It is not that obscure. But for some reason, I simply can't locate it. It's likely that this is an obvious song, and that nearly everyone in the U.S. over thirty has heard it.
Special snowflake detail: I have been known to obsess over a song for months, and search and search for it. I'll listen to all possible candidates, only to return to an early candidate that I'd listened to and decide that it is actually the song I was looking for, but simply not as good as I had remembered. So it's possible that it's actually something like Johnny Cash's "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer" or some other such thing and I just don't like it as much as I thought I did. But I don't think this is the case in this instance.
Okay, the song your question reminded me of isn't about John Henry or driving steel or dying whilst driving steel but it is an old country song played on oldies that is about a coal miner and is called Sixteen Tons.
posted by Polychrome at 8:17 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by Polychrome at 8:17 AM on January 11, 2012
Here's the song by Johnny Cash that ThaBombShelterSmith refers to.
posted by Houstonian at 8:19 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by Houstonian at 8:19 AM on January 11, 2012
There's a comprehensive John Henry website with several versions of the song (there are probably hundreds of versions). I was also thinking you might be thinking of Sixteen Tons, because that gets more radio airplay than any John Henry song I can think of.
posted by Miko at 8:32 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by Miko at 8:32 AM on January 11, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers so far, guys. I'd previously listened to Cash's "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer" a number of times, but I just don't think that's it. Stylistically, the song I'm thinking of is closer to "Sixteen Tons," but I'm almost positive that there's a Christ figure in the song and that he dies at the end.
Cash's song is way too upbeat compared to the one I'm thinking of. I do believe there's a hammer-pounding-a-steel-stake sound for the beat, but there's a sadness to it that's lacking in the "When John Henry was a little baby" versions.
@Miko: Thanks for the link. I've quickly scrolled through the songs, but it's going to take me a bit to download them and give each a listen.
posted by samizdat at 8:41 AM on January 11, 2012
Cash's song is way too upbeat compared to the one I'm thinking of. I do believe there's a hammer-pounding-a-steel-stake sound for the beat, but there's a sadness to it that's lacking in the "When John Henry was a little baby" versions.
@Miko: Thanks for the link. I've quickly scrolled through the songs, but it's going to take me a bit to download them and give each a listen.
posted by samizdat at 8:41 AM on January 11, 2012
Not likely to be the one you're looking for, but Drive-By Truckers The Day John Henry Died has the 'When John Henry was a little bitty baby' lyric.
posted by topher74 at 8:42 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by topher74 at 8:42 AM on January 11, 2012
Oh wait, you know what I think it might be? The related song Casey Jones (The Brave Engineer).
TV Theme
Eddy Arnold
Johnny Cash
Billy Murray (this is ancient)
The New Christy Minstrels, unusual version
I can remember hearing a version of this on the radio a lot as a kid, and would have sworn it was the Kingston Trio. I can't find that online, though. It may have been one of the dozens of other similar groups.
posted by Miko at 8:44 AM on January 11, 2012
TV Theme
Eddy Arnold
Johnny Cash
Billy Murray (this is ancient)
The New Christy Minstrels, unusual version
I can remember hearing a version of this on the radio a lot as a kid, and would have sworn it was the Kingston Trio. I can't find that online, though. It may have been one of the dozens of other similar groups.
posted by Miko at 8:44 AM on January 11, 2012
Oh, your later comment about sadness argue against it being Casey Jones.
posted by Miko at 8:44 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by Miko at 8:44 AM on January 11, 2012
Like Polychrome, your question reminded me of a song that isn't about railroads but a miner who dies at the end: Big John.
posted by Bourbonesque at 8:46 AM on January 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Bourbonesque at 8:46 AM on January 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
Mine related not train related but "Big Bad John" has a similar feel.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 8:47 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by bottlebrushtree at 8:47 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
Awesomely, Wikipedia has a list of train songs. I would love to see this fleshed out into a website...
posted by Miko at 8:48 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by Miko at 8:48 AM on January 11, 2012
Big Bad John?
Big John dies at the end saving a bunch of other miners.
posted by frobozz at 8:53 AM on January 11, 2012
Big John dies at the end saving a bunch of other miners.
posted by frobozz at 8:53 AM on January 11, 2012
Response by poster: I'd given "Big John" a spin earlier this morning, and while it has some of the feel of the song I'm thinking of, that's not it.
I hadn't thought of "Casey Jones," but after listening, that's definitely not it either.
I scrolled through Wikipedia's list of train songs a few days ago, but I there were so many, whatever I'm looking for was lost in the shuffle. Before embarking on attempting to locate this song, I had no idea how many train songs there really are. Makes me yearn for the days when trains were a thing in this country.
posted by samizdat at 8:55 AM on January 11, 2012
I hadn't thought of "Casey Jones," but after listening, that's definitely not it either.
I scrolled through Wikipedia's list of train songs a few days ago, but I there were so many, whatever I'm looking for was lost in the shuffle. Before embarking on attempting to locate this song, I had no idea how many train songs there really are. Makes me yearn for the days when trains were a thing in this country.
posted by samizdat at 8:55 AM on January 11, 2012
Response by poster: A clue I've just remembered from the song: I believe the man's heart gives out in mid-swing at the end. Maybe.
posted by samizdat at 8:56 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by samizdat at 8:56 AM on January 11, 2012
Aaaand now I've got both Dangerous Dan McGrew and Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle vying for attention in the stream of consciousness... I think both have been set to music at some point, but I can't easily locate any such versions, so not what you're looking for, I think.
Any idea at all of the singer? Male, from your examples, but anything else? And any memories about instrumentation?
posted by likeso at 9:03 AM on January 11, 2012
Any idea at all of the singer? Male, from your examples, but anything else? And any memories about instrumentation?
posted by likeso at 9:03 AM on January 11, 2012
I'll toss in the Wreck of the Old 97, where Steve dies in the wreck with his hand on the throttle, scalded to death by the steam. JC's version.
posted by quarterframer at 9:05 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by quarterframer at 9:05 AM on January 11, 2012
Response by poster: Not "The Wreck of the Old 97." Too upbeat.
I can't recall much about the singer. Deep-voiced. Instrumentally, the only thing that stands out is the beat of the song coming mostly from the driving of the stake.
posted by samizdat at 9:08 AM on January 11, 2012
I can't recall much about the singer. Deep-voiced. Instrumentally, the only thing that stands out is the beat of the song coming mostly from the driving of the stake.
posted by samizdat at 9:08 AM on January 11, 2012
Okay, I'll keep digging. We gotta get flapjax and cortex in on this.
posted by likeso at 9:16 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by likeso at 9:16 AM on January 11, 2012
Everything points to it being a version of John Henry. Your description reminds me most of the prison recording Alan Lomax made of John Henry - deep voiced, dour, mainly percussive - but that's not one that got any radio play, so I doubt that's it. Can't find it online, either. It's the one Tangle Eye remixed for his album.
Incidentally, this is a wonderful video of men talking about 'John Henry' which Lomax shot while collecting.
posted by Miko at 9:21 AM on January 11, 2012
Incidentally, this is a wonderful video of men talking about 'John Henry' which Lomax shot while collecting.
posted by Miko at 9:21 AM on January 11, 2012
I'm almost sure I remember the same version. It's much slower and more melancholy than the Johnny Cash, with a slow and very steady steel beat. I wouldn't be surprised if the singer were someone like Paul Robeson (although the only recording I can find of him doesn't match up at all). This version I remember has lyrics closest to these (bluebirds, no Polly, etc.).
I see 100 traditional versions here, semi-sorted, if you're interested in going through them.
posted by booksandlibretti at 9:31 AM on January 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
I see 100 traditional versions here, semi-sorted, if you're interested in going through them.
posted by booksandlibretti at 9:31 AM on January 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Miko: I clicked on your link to the Lomax video, but it looks like you've accidentally just linked back to this thread.
posted by samizdat at 9:32 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by samizdat at 9:32 AM on January 11, 2012
Response by poster: @booksandlibretti: Hell's bells that's one fantastic link. Regardless of whether or not I find the song I'm looking for —or if my special snowflakeness shines through and it ends up being one of the songs already mentioned in this thread and I just don't recognize it as such— this thread will have been worth it just for that resource.
Also, those lyrics are much closer to what I remember. I think you're on to something.
posted by samizdat at 9:36 AM on January 11, 2012
Also, those lyrics are much closer to what I remember. I think you're on to something.
posted by samizdat at 9:36 AM on January 11, 2012
Bruce Springsteen's John Henry is more recent then you're thinking, but it seems to fit your criteria. Maybe it's based on the version you're thinking of?
posted by no regrets, coyote at 9:38 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by no regrets, coyote at 9:38 AM on January 11, 2012
(on non-preview, Bruce's version is similar to the lyrics booksandlibretti posted)
posted by no regrets, coyote at 9:40 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by no regrets, coyote at 9:40 AM on January 11, 2012
Dammit. That's my latest trick - it happens when I type too fast and put a single quotation mark instead of a double. It reverts back to the page link. Here's another try. There's a whole series of clips of interviews with these guys.
posted by Miko at 9:42 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by Miko at 9:42 AM on January 11, 2012
Response by poster: @coyote: Nope. That's not it. It begins with "When John Henry was a little baby..." and I'm positive that that's not the version of the song that I remember.
Side note: That's the first song I can remember my father ever learning to play on the guitar.
posted by samizdat at 9:44 AM on January 11, 2012
Side note: That's the first song I can remember my father ever learning to play on the guitar.
posted by samizdat at 9:44 AM on January 11, 2012
How about the Drive By Trucker's "the day john Henry died"?
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 9:47 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 9:47 AM on January 11, 2012
Response by poster: No, that's not it. What I'm looking for is significantly older than that. Almost kind of old-fashioned.
But still played on popular radio.
posted by samizdat at 9:50 AM on January 11, 2012
But still played on popular radio.
posted by samizdat at 9:50 AM on January 11, 2012
It's this version. John Henry, Let Your Hammer Ring. (He laid down his hammer and died, died.) Can't find a version, but that's gotta be it. Here's a version on YouTube.
posted by deludingmyself at 10:03 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by deludingmyself at 10:03 AM on January 11, 2012
Uh, forget the penultimate sentence. Obviously I did find a version, there.
posted by deludingmyself at 10:04 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by deludingmyself at 10:04 AM on January 11, 2012
How about Harry Belafonte's version? It was popular enough to be on the radio but doesn't start with the baby lyrics.
posted by Esteemed Offendi at 10:09 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by Esteemed Offendi at 10:09 AM on January 11, 2012
And having just listened to that again, the lyrics in what I linked are closer at the start to "when John Henry was a little baby" than the version being sung in the YouTube link. But try searching Let Your Hammer Ring, a bit.
posted by deludingmyself at 10:10 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by deludingmyself at 10:10 AM on January 11, 2012
I was a radio DJ/music director in the 70s at a station with a heavy rotation of hits from the 50s forward. Based on that experience, I honestly believe there are only a couple songs that meet both the "dies at the end" and "not-obscure, heard often" criteria.
They've already been named -- John Henry (in its many variants) and Jimmy Dean's Big John. booksandlibretti's link is a fantastic overview of the John Henry variants. Those most likely to have been heard on the radio during that era include the Bellafonte, Cash, Leadbelly, Muddy Waters and Doc Watson versions, probably in that order. Listen once more to the 1959 Bellafonte version of John Henry -- it includes the "When John Henry was a little baby" line, but doesn't begin there. That version had crossover airplay on the widest variety of radio stations, from country to adult contemporary.
Often-heard tunes with a similar steel-driving beat but no death would be (already mentioned) Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Johnny Horton's North to Alaska.
posted by peakcomm at 10:10 AM on January 11, 2012 [5 favorites]
They've already been named -- John Henry (in its many variants) and Jimmy Dean's Big John. booksandlibretti's link is a fantastic overview of the John Henry variants. Those most likely to have been heard on the radio during that era include the Bellafonte, Cash, Leadbelly, Muddy Waters and Doc Watson versions, probably in that order. Listen once more to the 1959 Bellafonte version of John Henry -- it includes the "When John Henry was a little baby" line, but doesn't begin there. That version had crossover airplay on the widest variety of radio stations, from country to adult contemporary.
Often-heard tunes with a similar steel-driving beat but no death would be (already mentioned) Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Johnny Horton's North to Alaska.
posted by peakcomm at 10:10 AM on January 11, 2012 [5 favorites]
There are so many great links here - did you find this Spotify playlist with a few different versions?
posted by peagood at 10:29 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by peagood at 10:29 AM on January 11, 2012
Response by poster: Ugh. I feel like I've done it again. None of these sound like what's in my head, but I'm beginning to think that I remember the song differently than it actually is, and that I'm just not as fond of it as I once remember.
None of these match what I think I'm looking for, but perhaps what I'm looking for never existed.
posted by samizdat at 10:37 AM on January 11, 2012
None of these match what I think I'm looking for, but perhaps what I'm looking for never existed.
posted by samizdat at 10:37 AM on January 11, 2012
The Smothers Brothers version has a slightly different ending but it does begin "When John Henry / was a little baby..."
On the other hand, that version has a lot more spittin'.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:50 AM on January 11, 2012
On the other hand, that version has a lot more spittin'.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:50 AM on January 11, 2012
I can sympathize with misremembering a song so much that I was unable to track it down using some of those apps that can name a tune for you if you hum it. There was a song that I recently became obsessed with that received a lot of airplay in the late seventies, and had been used at least once by either the SNL band or Letterman's band as go-to-commercial music, but I couldn't remember any but the first few words of the lyrics ("Hello, my love"--hardly unique), and all I got from people who I tried humming it to was, "Yeah, I kind of remember that, but I can't place it either." (I thought about posting it to AskMe, but I didn't have anything suitable for recording what I remembered of the melody and posting it--an alternative for you if you do.)
Then I watched Jackie Brown, probably the only Tarantino film that I hadn't already seen, and there it was on the soundtrack: "Strawberry Letter 23." And it was a lot different from how I'd remembered it.
Anyway, best of luck, and hopefully you'll come across a lot of other great music in the process.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:51 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
Then I watched Jackie Brown, probably the only Tarantino film that I hadn't already seen, and there it was on the soundtrack: "Strawberry Letter 23." And it was a lot different from how I'd remembered it.
Anyway, best of luck, and hopefully you'll come across a lot of other great music in the process.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:51 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks, Halloween Jack. So you know of my particular malady, then.
Neither of the most recent suggestions are a match.
I'm pretty sure that between pounds on the stake were percussive "Oohs" and "Ahs" (which have been heard in a few of the songs suggested in this thread). You know, like grunting?
posted by samizdat at 11:03 AM on January 11, 2012
Neither of the most recent suggestions are a match.
I'm pretty sure that between pounds on the stake were percussive "Oohs" and "Ahs" (which have been heard in a few of the songs suggested in this thread). You know, like grunting?
posted by samizdat at 11:03 AM on January 11, 2012
Oohs and aahs-- you're sure it's not Sam Cooke - Chain Gang?
posted by Dixon Ticonderoga at 11:38 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Dixon Ticonderoga at 11:38 AM on January 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sam Cooke's "Working On the Chain Gang?"
It's got the canonical oohs and ahs.
posted by spitbull at 11:40 AM on January 11, 2012
It's got the canonical oohs and ahs.
posted by spitbull at 11:40 AM on January 11, 2012
Ah, Dixon beat me to it! Gotta be if you really are thinking of a song "everyone knows" that has that effect.
posted by spitbull at 11:40 AM on January 11, 2012
posted by spitbull at 11:40 AM on January 11, 2012
Response by poster: That's not it. Because the song I'm thinking of involves a man working himself to death.
I'm a crazy person. Sending people on a fool's errand.
posted by samizdat at 1:54 PM on January 11, 2012
I'm a crazy person. Sending people on a fool's errand.
posted by samizdat at 1:54 PM on January 11, 2012
I remember singing a song about John Henry in grade school music class... I don't think these lyrics are exactly the same: http://www.usscouts.org/songs/songbk1c.asp
but maybe they're the lyrics you're looking for. Then you could google all the lyrics and see who sang it.
posted by lovelygirl at 6:13 PM on January 11, 2012
but maybe they're the lyrics you're looking for. Then you could google all the lyrics and see who sang it.
posted by lovelygirl at 6:13 PM on January 11, 2012
Or this other version by a Bill Monroe: http://www.bluegrasslyrics.com/node/325
posted by lovelygirl at 6:20 PM on January 11, 2012
posted by lovelygirl at 6:20 PM on January 11, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 8:07 AM on January 11, 2012