“bagkgon train”

Just recently my boys (2 & 3.5) decided that they liked Downbound Train [not embedded because I couldn’t find the album version] – the title above is an attempt to transfer into letters the sounds that are produced by my oldest when he names the song.  Yes, it IS adorable.  Maybe they just like it because it has the word “train” that they can clearly pick out from the lyrics but hey – I’ll take it!  When they decide they like a song (I think, so far, they have mostly liked all the same songs), they let you know that they like it by saying “Again!” every time it ends and getting upset when you finally move on to a new song.

Them liking songs is nothing new, but it is rare that they choose a song I’m playing.  My wife does the vast majority of the trucking the kids around, so they hear mostly music she’s playing (which also happens to be music I like – but it’s not quite the same).   This is probably for the best – because my wife is much, much better with song lyrics than me.  I can sing along when a song is playing but, unless I go out of my way to memorize something, the lyrics don’t stick with me.  Even songs I’ve known for decades!

My boys do have good taste: Modern Man/Arcade Fire, Heads Will Roll/YeahYeahYeahs, Frank Sinatra/Cake (“Franken Otra daddy!), The Cave/Mumford and Sons, Story of My Life/Social Distortian, Lisztomania/Phoenix.  It helps that they don’t have much (any?) exposure to music we don’t like ;)… yet.

I try and find a common thread behind the songs they like and I haven’t yet.  Having lyrics they can identify and sing seems to help, as does mentioning trains or cars.

Bonus!  I found two cool covers of Downbound Train while digging for a youtube link:

Raul Malo (of the Mavericks):

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Sr6EeIr-4

The Cardigans:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPfAzBtOHTU

Let’s take a look at the lyrics (because I LOVE lyrics, even if I can’t remember them to save my life).

I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going mister in this world
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the carwash
Where all it ever does is rain
Don’t you feel like you’re a rider on a downbound train

She just said “Joe I gotta go
We had it once we ain’t got it any more”
She packed her bags left me behind
She bought a ticket on the Central Line
Nights as I sleep, I hear that whistle whining
I feel her kiss in the misty rain
And I feel like I’m a rider on a downbound train

Last night I heard your voice
You were crying, crying, you were so alone
You said your love had never died
You were waiting for me at home
Put on my jacket, I ran through the woods
I ran till I thought my chest would explode
There in the clearing, beyond the highway
In the moonlight, our wedding house shone
I rushed through the yard, I burst through the front door
My head pounding hard, up the stairs I climbed
The room was dark, our bed was empty
Then I heard that long whistle whine
And I dropped to my knees, hung my head and cried

Now I swing a sledge hammer on a railroad gang
Knocking down them cross ties, working in the rain
Now don’t it feel like you’re a rider on a downbound train

Solid, right?  I’ve recently started trying to play it on guitar for the kids, and it gives me chills when I really sink into the words. Especially as they come full circle…

I have an admission to make.  *looks around*

I learned something from a youtube comment today.

I know, “the shame!?”, right?

I never connected the fact that the speaker’s lover left him on a train to the fact that he winds up working on train tracks – presumably for the same line.  I mean, I was aware of both points… I just never connected them for the irony.

Bonus!  How many knew that this song was originally recorded in the Nebraska sessions?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_YlOD292Jc

I think it would have fit right in there, but I’m much happier with it on Born in the USA… Nebraska I don’t listen to so often, not unless I want to be depressed.  USA has enough of everything that I can enjoy it in just about any mood.