Trains!
Louis Apollon describes the process of writing “Trains!” as an alternative to the traditional song, “I've Been Working on the Railroad,“ for the Know Better Do Better Project.
Louis Apollon sings his song “Trains!”.
Alternative for “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”. Published as “Levee Song” in the Princeton University compilation Carmina Princetonia, 1898. Original writers are unknown/anonymous.
This new song uses the theme of trains but from the perspective of a commuter. As for song form, this uses a Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus format instead of four different sections back to back like the referenced song (Verse, PreChorus, Chorus, Bridge that repeats).
Trains!
© 2022 Louis Apollon (BMI), www.louisapollon.com
Permission granted to use for personal and educational purposes. All other rights reserved.
I love to take a ride on the local train (woo woo, woo woo)
Glide across the rails each and every way (woo woo, woo woo)
Hear it in the distance, that electric hum (woo woo, woo woo)
When it gets closer feel it shake the ground (woo woo, woo woo)
In New York City you can take the Subway
Chicago you can catch the L
Hop on a trolley and San Diego
Ride the T all through Boston-town
So many places to get around while riding a train
Listen to the voice on the intercom (woo woo, woo woo)
They’ll have some information about the very next stop (woo woo, woo woo)
While riding on the train there are some basic rules (woo woo, woo woo)
Be mindful of your neighbors; stay clear of closing doors (woo woo, woo woo)
In Berlin you can take the U-bahn
In San Juan, Tren Urbano
The MTR when you’re in Hong Kong
Ride the Metlink down in Melbourne
So many places around the world to ride a train
In New York City you can take the Subway
Chicago you can catch the L
Hop on a trolley and San Diego
Ride the T all through Boston-town
So many places to get around while riding a train
(repeat/ad lib “while riding a train” over vamp to close)
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Key of G in 4/4 time. Swing feel. Uses bar (and sometimes 7th) chords in video, but open tuning is encouraged as well.
Opening Vamp:
/ G - C D / G - - - / G - C D / G - - - /
Verse:
/ G - - - / G - - - / - C G - / - C G - /
/ G - - - / G - - - / - C D - / - G - - /
/ G - - - / G - - - / - C G - / - C G - /
/ G - - - / G - - - / - C D - / - G - - /
Chorus:
/ C - - - / C - - - / Bm - - - / Bm - - - /
/ Am - - - / Am - - - / Dsus - - - / Dsus - - - / Dsus - - -/ Dsus - - - /
Vamp:
/ G - C D / G - - - / G - C D / G - - - /
Verse:
/ G - - - / G - - - / - C G - / - C G - /
/ G - - - / G - - - / - C D - / - G - - /
/ G - - - / G - - - / - C G - / - C G - /
/ G - - - / G - - - / - C D - / - G - - /
Chorus:
/ C - - - / C - - - / Bm - - - / Bm - - - /
/ Am - - - / Am - - - / Dsus - - - / Dsus - - - / Dsus - - -/ Dsus - - - /
1/2 Vamp:
/ G - C D / G - - - /
[First Chorus]