Freight Train
Nancy Whiskey Lyrics


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This is my island in the sun
Where my people have toiled since time begun
I may sail on many a sea
Her shores will always be home to me

Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters, your shining sand

As morning breaks the heaven on high
I lift my heavy load to the sky
Sun comes down with a burning glow
Mingles my sweat with the earth below

Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters, your shining sand

I see woman on bended knee
Cutting cane for her family
I see man at the waterside
Casting nets at the surging tide

Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters, your shining sand

I pray the day will never come
When I can't awake to the sound of drum
Never let me miss carnival
With calypso songs philosophical

Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand




All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters, your shining sand

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nancy Whiskey's song "Freight Train" speak to a deep sense of home and pride in one's identity. The repeated reference to an "island in the sun" becomes a metaphor for a specific homeland that the singer holds dear. This homeland, passed down from their father's hand, has been toiled on by their people "since time begun." This not only speaks to a sense of generational lineage, but also a cultural responsibility to care for and honor the land and people that have come before.


As the song goes on, the singer portrays a day in the life of their home through vivid images of cutting sugar cane and fishing. There is a sense of rhythm and sweat in this island life, as the singer describes the sun mingling with their sweat and the rhythmic beating of a drum. The importance of this cultural identity is highlighted in the final lines as the singer prays to never miss the carnival and the "calypso songs philosophical."


Line by Line Meaning

This is my island in the sun
The singer claims ownership of the island where her people have lived for generations.


Where my people have toiled since time begun
The singer acknowledges the hard work her people have put in for as long as she can remember.


I may sail on many a sea
The singer recognizes that she may travel to many parts of the world.


Her shores will always be home to me
Despite travel, the island will always be the singer's home.


Oh, island in the sun
Repeating the initial line, the singer emphasizes the centrality of the island to her identity.


Willed to me by my father's hand
The island has been passed down through the family, emphasizing its importance to the singer's heritage.


All my days I will sing in praise
The singer intends always to appreciate the beauty and value of her home.


Of your forest, waters, your shining sand
Specifically, there are natural elements of the island that the singer finds particularly compelling.


As morning breaks the heaven on high
The singer is describing a new day beginning.


I lift my heavy load to the sky
The work on the island is difficult and requires physical effort.


Sun comes down with a burning glow
The sun is hot and intense.


Mingles my sweat with the earth below
The singer's sweat is mixing with the soil of the land, emphasizing the connection between the people and their home.


I see woman on bended knee
The singer sees a woman engaged in agricultural work.


Cutting cane for her family
The work that the woman is doing is to support her loved ones.


I see man at the waterside
The singer observes a man fishing along the shore.


Casting nets at the surging tide
The man is using a net to catch fish in the water that is moving back and forth.


I pray the day will never come
The singer expresses a hope that something bad will never happen.


When I can't awake to the sound of drum
The singer wants to always wake up to the sound of music.


Never let me miss carnival
The singer wants to avoid missing a celebration with music and dancing.


With calypso songs philosophical
The songs of the carnival have some deeper meaning or message about life.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Elizabeth Cotten

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Peter Fludde

This song, and the singer, have always been part of life, from the days of 'Uncle Mac' on Saturday morning BBC radio to now. In the 1950s it was the first verse and chorus which one noticed and was moved by, now it is the last - there is so much more to this song, and Nancy Wilson's singing of it, than one ever knew back then.

Tarra Fiegel

My dad, ChicThompson, brought Nancy Whiskey from the UK to the us. Recorded on his own label, "Frieght Train" was the only Chic Thomoson label, hit the Billboard Charts as #50, the label's only song to hit Billboard.

Stephen Morse

Great to see this upgrade on the existing YouTube video. Love this song/performance !

Attempted Unkindness

Thank you, sir.
While I like to joke "The Irish like to pray on their knees, but the Scots like to prey on their neighbors!" This is true beauty.

Pablo Santander

Very good quality video and sound.
Thanks!

beasis

0:57 that is some fast guitar playing!!

kudraet

Nancy was really cute.

The Outsider

She was very pretty

deejaytee

Nice to see Hugh Laurie on washboard.........🤣....

mrbillhicks

0:51 Where's me washboard ?

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