Train On The Island
J.P. Nestor Lyrics
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Go, tell my true love I can't hold the wheel
I can't roll the wheel, Lord, it's I can't hold the wheel
Thought he heard it blow, Lord, he thought he heard it blow
Train on the island since I heard it blow
Go tell my true love, sick and I can't go
Sick, and I can't go
Train on the island since I've heard it squeal
Go tell my true love, how happy I do feel
Thought he heard it blow, Lord, thought he heard it blow
Train on the island since I've heard it blow
Go, tell my true love long as I can go
Long as I can go
Lord, he thought he heard it blow
Train on the island since I've heard it blow
Go tell my true love, sick and I can't go
Sick, and I can't go, Lord, sick and I can't go
Thought he heard it blow, Lord, thought he heard it blow
The song "Train on the Island" by J.P. Nestor is a traditional American folk song that tells the story of a man who is unable to go to his true love because he can't "roll the wheel" or drive the train that he hears approaching. The song is believed to have originated in the Appalachian Mountains and is thought to be a tribute to the hard-working men who built and operated the trains in the region.
The repeated line "Thought he heard it blow, Lord, thought he heard it blow" creates a sense of urgency and helps to establish the setting and mood of the song. The train is a symbol of the fast-paced modern world and represents the man's desire to be with his true love despite the obstacles in his way. The lyrics also suggest that the man may be sick, which adds to the emotional weight of the song.
Overall, "Train on the Island" is a poignant and evocative example of American train songs that capture both the excitement and the sadness of railroad life.
Line by Line Meaning
Train on the island since I heard it squeal
I've been hearing the train on the island since it first made a high-pitched noise
Go, tell my true love I can't hold the wheel
Please tell my beloved that I am unable to operate the vehicle
I can't roll the wheel, Lord, it's I can't hold the wheel
I'm unable to steer the vehicle, in fact, I'm unable to even grip it properly
Thought he heard it blow, Lord, he thought he heard it blow
My friend mistakenly thought they heard the train's horn blowing
Train on the island since I've heard it blow
Ever since I heard the train's horn blowing, it's been a constant presence on the island
Go tell my true love, sick and I can't go
Kindly inform my lover that I am unwell and unable to leave
Sick, and I can't go
I'm feeling unwell, and I can't leave this place
And I can't roll the wheel
Additionally, I'm not capable of operating the vehicle
Go tell my true love, how happy I do feel
Convey to my beloved how joyous and content I am
Long as I can go
As long as I'm physically able to do so
Lord, he thought he heard it blow
My friend once again mistakenly believed to have heard the sound of the train's horn
Sick, and I can't go, Lord, sick and I can't go
I'm unfortunately unwell and unable to depart, I'm unable to move at all
Thought he heard it blow, Lord, thought he heard it blow
My friend is once again unsure if he's hearing the sound of the train's horn or not
Writer(s): j.p. nestor
Contributed by Brayden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheBWJohnson
buenas fotos y gran canción! Yo nací en un tren, ya sabes ...
@brothermule
Hot licks!
@TheBWJohnson
excelentes fotografías y video! Yo nací en un tren, no te conozco
@thebrazilianatlantis165
It's Nester like the 78 says and his family says.
@RedWindField
Does anyone know whether the banjo player is using a clawhammer or bluegrass technique? It's so fast, I don't really imagine 2 human beings playing this. Beautiful
@steven98092
Clawhammer. And, this was recorded in 1927, well before Bluegrass was invented
@raybin6873
@@steven98092 - yes indeed! Way before bluegrass legends popularized this style of playing - I first heard modern version of this song - got curious of it's origin and found this...awesome! 😀
@thomasbecker8711
Up Picking (Seeger style without drop thumb) rather than clawhammer
@RedWindField
@@thomasbecker8711 years on, my vocabulary and knowledge around banjo technique has grown. Up picking tho?! Phenomenal projection and speed. And talk about the meter, this music so innocent in its conception without the conditioning of expected meters from pop music, it sounds like a freedom so magical. Such mysterious music to me. I love it.
@ArkRed1
Sounds like frailing.