Last week’s rando lyric: The lyric, “I got this old black leather jacket, I got this pack of Marlboro Reds” is from the song "Play A Train Song”, written and performed by Todd Snider. It was released on the Oh Boy record label (Ed. note: John Prine’s label) in 2004 as Track 3 on the album “East Nashville Skyline”. Produced by Al Bunetta & Todd Snider
Credit Wikipedia Link: East Nashville Skyline
Ed. note: The album information on Genius credits three writers, Billy Joe Shaver, Fred Eaglesmith & Todd Snider, so it’s a bit unclear whether the three collaborated on all of the songs on the album or only some. In any case, “Play A Train Song” may be a collaboration. Or not. But note, Wikipedia lists all songs on the album as written by Todd Snider, except where noted and “Play A Train Song” isn’t noted as a collaboration.
￣\_(ツ_/￣
Credit Genius Link: Play A Train Song
Welcome to The Regular Friday post!
A bit of a departure from some of our usual fare here on Michael Acoustic, but Todd Snider, a sometime co-headliner with one of my favorite writer, performer, recording artists, Mr. John Prine, has a place in my heart. If Mr. Prine liked him, well then, I like him. So he’s this week’s A Song To Play artist below.
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Some Stuff:
Ed: I noted with more than a little amusement the brouhaha (a word I seldom remember to use…) over the Cracker Barrel logo - failed branding strategy or brilliant ad/marketing ploy? I dunno, but it made me laugh a bit in a week marred with tragedy…
And yes, it’s undoubtedly clear where my musical interests lie. I’m more than willing to add, and give credit to, reader suggestions that include a photo or montage that I can fit into this space that ISN’T Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, The Rolling Stones, Traveling Wilburys, or The Beatles. Leave a comment with a photo and I’ll consider all I receive (unless it’s weird or porn or something...I’m pretty open minded and it IS the music industry, so a little weird is to be expected, but if I don’t dig it, it’s not going in…just sayin’).
A Song To Play:
4/4 common time, Key of GMajor, a very fast 167 BPM (play it at any speed you want… at least until you get a feel for it, then continue to do whatever you want…).
Todd Snider is a bit…different. I often find myself coming back to his music because he’s unapologetic about what he does. He just does it….
Doesn’t mean his music is odd, but like most artists really, he may not be for everybody. I think he cares to an extent, but after that Todd’s gonna do what Todd’s gonna do….and…
…good for him!
Chordify Link: Play A Train Song
But mostly, like Todd…have fun!!
From Genius Link: Play A Train Song:
““Play a Train Song” is a eulogy to East Nashville’s beloved, hard-living mayor/uncle and Todd’s neighbor/manager “Uncle” Skip Litz.
Skip was famous for requesting (demanding) that the band “PLAY A FUCKIN' TRAIN SONG!” What he wanted to hear was a song with the percussive rhythm Snider lays on the back of this song (and that most country songs about trains have). In his honor, the song has both the beat and lyrics of a “train song,” and the train Todd sings about is Skip.
This song is annotated with several quotations from a blog post Snider wrote after Litz died, but presumably before he wrote “Train Song.” That blog was copied here before disappearing from its original site:
http://nomorebuffalo.blogspot.com/2004/12/todd-snider-uncle-skip-and-last-train.html”
Play A Train Song
[Verse 1]
A smokin' long black Cadillac, the engine's winding down
He'd park it up on the sidewalk like he owned the whole damn town
I'd hear him talkin' to some chick through a thick ghost of smoke
Through a thicker haze of Southern comfort and coke
[Verse 2]
"Say girl, you're hotter than the hinges hanging off the gates of hell
Don't be afraid to turn to me, babe, if-a he don't treat you well,"
And by "he," he meant me, so I laughed and I shook his hand
He laughed a little bit louder as he'd yell up at the band
[Chorus 1]
Play a train song, pour me one more round
Make 'em leave my boots on when they lay me into the ground
I am a runaway locomotive, out of my one track mind
[Verse 4]
In the television, blizzard lights we looked around his place
We found him cold there on the sofa, a little smile across his face
And though I tried with all of my sadness, somehow I just-a could not weep
For a man who looked to me like he died laughin' in his sleep
[Chorus 2]
Singin' a train song, drinkin' a-one last round
We made 'em leave his boots on on the day they laid him down
He was a runaway locomotive, out of his one track mind
[Outro]
Play a train song
Play a train song
Play a train song
The “ME!” Section…..
What I’m Listening2: What The Music Knows
Shameless Self Promotion Section:
My song is out! Link: “>Long Road Back<”click on this link for streaming options, then scroll down for links (or just click on these links) to Amazon, Apple, Pandora, iTunes and even Spotify
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Disclaimer Section
This Substack is free, I receive no compensation of any kind from companies or products I mention (except when you click on one of the links above for my song - then I might make 0.003 cents - yes 3/1000ths of a cent… just sayin…). Some linked or quoted material may be copyrighted by others, and I credit them. I rely on the “Fair Use” doctrine for educational purposes (Link: Fair Use). *I do not use AI for any of the text that’s found here, things I embed or link to (such as some images) might…
-Michael Acoustic
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This Week’s Conversation With Mika, The Cat:
Mika: “I’m out! Let me know when you’re through torturing that poor wooden thing with the strings…”
Cheers and keep playing!!
Michael Acoustic
“It’s never really final - you just run out of things you can bear to change…”