In 2001, Le Volume Courbe released the "Harmony/Papillon De Nuit" 7" on the Poptones record label. In 2005, Marionneau recorded, I Killed My Best Friend with contributions from Kevin Shields, Colm Ó Cíosóig, Hope Sandoval, and David Roback among others. I Killed My Best Friend was first released on Honest Jon's and was then picked up by Astralwerks in 2006.
In 2008, Le Volume Courbe played a series of festivals and tour dates in Europe and the US, most notably, with the newly-reformed My Bloody Valentine. The touring lineup included Marionneau on vocals, Theodore Hall on guitar, Mel Draisey on violin, glockenspiel and percussion, and Wild Cat on drums.
Freight Train
Le Volume Courbe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Freight train, freight train, run so fast
Please don't tell what train I'm on
They won't know what route I've gone.
When I'm dead and in my grave
No more good times here I crave
Place the stones at my head and feet
When I die, Lord, bury me deep
Way down on old Chestnut street
So I can hear old Number 9
As she comes rolling by.
When I die, Lord, bury me deep
Way down on old Chestnut street
Place the stones at my head and feet
Tell them all that I've gone to sleep.
Le Volume Courbe's "Freight Train" is a haunting rendition of Elizabeth Cotten's original folk song. The repeated verses convey a sense of urgency and secrecy as the singer pleads to keep the train's route a secret. The fast-paced rhythm and the repetition of the title "Freight Train" imbue a sense of momentum, capturing the essence of a locomotive hurtling down the tracks. The song's melancholic tone is further amplified by the singer's yearning for death, to be able to escape the struggles and hardships life has dealt them.
The mention of placing stones at the head and feet of the grave is a tradition that dates back to pre-Christian times, as it was believed to keep the soul within the confines of the body. The singer's request to be buried on Chestnut Street holds significance as well. Chestnuts are strongly associated with long life, perseverance, and strength. The street may represent a place of comfort and familiarity to the singer or the overall sense of community that comes with generations living on the same street. The longing to hear "old Number 9" as the train passes by suggests a desire for continuity, a reassurance that life goes on even after one's death.
Overall, Le Volume Courbe's rendition of "Freight Train" is a beautiful and poignant interpretation of an iconic folk song. Its lyrics offer a glimpse into the struggles and desires of the human experience, as well as a testament to the enduring nature of traditions and community.
Line by Line Meaning
Freight train, freight train, run so fast
The singer is singing about a freight train that runs very fast
Please don't tell what train I'm on
The singer doesn't want anyone to know which train they are on
They won't know what route I've gone.
The singer wants to keep their travel route a secret
When I'm dead and in my grave
The artist is contemplating their own death
No more good times here I crave
The artist doesn't want to experience any more good times in life
Place the stones at my head and feet
The singer wants stones placed at their head and feet when they die
Tell them all that I've gone to sleep.
The singer wants people to know that they have passed away
When I die, Lord, bury me deep
The artist is repeating their desire to be buried deeply when they pass away
Way down on old Chestnut street
The artist wants to be buried on Chestnut Street
So I can hear old Number 9
The artist wants to be buried in a place where they can hear the sound of a train called Number 9
As she comes rolling by.
The singer wants to hear the sound of Number 9 as it passes by their burial place
Contributed by Camilla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cristiankoffreiteskof4859
que hermosa cancion y muy buena armonica....
@artodeantonin1279
skins soundtrack is awesome. lot of good songs like this
@MilkForWhales
la la love this song been listening to it nonstop for the past few days but i can't find the lyrics for it anywhere ._. and what i can make out sounds great
@PapyNavions
@MilkForWhales Chorus: Freight train, Freight train, run so fast Freight train, Freight train, run so fast Please don't tell what train I'm on They won't know what route I've gone When I'm dead and in my grave No more good times here I crave Place the stones at my head and feet Tell them all that I've gone to sleep. When I die, Lord, bury me deep Way down on old Chestnut street (So) I can hear old Number 9 As she comes rolling by. Chords : C, G, G7, E7, F
@DCCRocks
really like this song, first heard it on skins series 4
@leihouyeah
APPLAUSE!!!!!!!!