For assignment two the song I chose was “Waiting For A Train” by Jimmie Rodgers. This song was released in 1929 and it represents bluegrass country to it’s roots. This song was recorded at Victor Studios in Atlanta and quickly became an Anthem for the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Jimmie Rodgers is nicknamed “The Father of Country Music” because many of the song released in the 1920s became the backbone for what the genre had become. His songs gained notoriety nationwide and had a great relatable factor the the American people. His songs were easily recognizable because of his distinct yodeling, which is present on this song. He also rose to fame due to his recordings of his songs as opposed to touring and preforming live, which was rare in that time period. His nickname was “The Singing Brakeman” because of his background hopping trains for railroad work which is a heavy inspiration for this song. In 1924 Jimmie came down with Tuberculosis and quit his railroad work to focus on music. In his last years he sought refuge in Kerrville and San Antonio Texas. He spent his last few years only doing shows close to him in Texas before his passing in 1933.
While this song is a great representation of what life was like for many in the Great Depression, I wish it got a little more in depth. The song is short at only just under 3 minutes, but a large portion is him yodeling between the verses. I wish he used that time to maybe add another verse and add more details. Me personally as a listener, I would have liked to know backstory and how he got into that position to begin with. While I didn’t think it was needed in this song in particular, I would have also like to know the struggles other groups were facing around this time such as women, African Americans, Hispanics, and so on. Since this song is approaching 100 years old, I struggled to find many sources that talked more about the backstory of the song. Maybe I was looking in the wrong place, but if there was articles about that they were drowned in the millions of lyrics pages I found.
Over the years Jimmie Rodger’s music had a heavy impact on the Country stars after him such as Ernest Tubb, Johhny Cash, Dolly Parton, and many more. In his time he changed the perception of “hillbilly music” and brought to light a vocal style and passion that became the blueprint for country stars. His discography spread many genres and styles such as country, folk, jazz, and even the blues. His style of country was the blueprint and ensured the success of the country stars of the future.
Lyrics:
All around the water tower, waiting for a train.
A thousand miles away from home, sleeping in the rain.
I walked up to a brakeman just to give him a line of talk,
He said if you’ve got money, I’ll see that you don’t walk.
Well, I haven’t got a nickel, not a penny can I show.
Get off, get off, you railroad bum, and he slammed that boxcar door.
Well, he put me off in Texas, a state I dearly love.
The wide open spaces all round me, the moon and stars up above.
Nobody seems to want me nor to lend me a helping hand.
I’m on my way from ‘Frisco, going back to Dixieland.
My pocketbook is empty, my heart is full of pain.
I’m a thousand miles away from home, just waiting for a train.
Bibliography
- “Jimmie Rodgers – Waiting for a Train.” Genius, genius.com/Jimmie-rodgers-waiting-for-a-train-lyrics.
- “Jimmie Rodgers (COUNTRY SINGER).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Sept. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Rodgers_(country_singer).
- Facebook.com/damullinstrain. “Rodgers Remembrance Vol VII: Waiting for a Train.” Bluegrass Today, 13 Dec. 2016, bluegrasstoday.com/rodgers-remembrance-vol-vii-waiting-for-a-train/.
