Freight Train
Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group, Nancy Whiskey
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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 [Chorus:] 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 [Chorus] I see woman on bended knee Cutting cane for her family I see man at the waterside Casting nets at the surging tide [Chorus] 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 [Chorus]
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Written by: Elizabeth Cotten
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
4 facts about this song
Elizabeth Cotten" Facts"Freight Train" was written by Elizabeth Cotten, an American blues and folk musician.
- The song was written when she was only 11 years old.
- She created the fingerstyle guitar technique known as "Cotten Picking" to accommodate her left-handed playing.
- Elizabeth Cotten won a Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording in 1985 at the age of 90.
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Nancy Whiskey" FactsNancy Whiskey, a renowned Scottish folk singer, is known for her version of "Freight Train".
- She added a verse to the song to make it relevant for the British audience.
- Born in Glasgow as Anne Alexandra Young Wilson, she adopted the stage name Nancy Whiskey inspired by a traditional Scottish folk song.
- Nancy's version of "Freight Train" was a significant hit, reaching No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart in 1957.
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Peggy Seeger" FactsAmerican folk singer Peggy Seeger also popularized "Freight Train" in her recordings.
- Peggy is the half-sister of iconic folk musician Pete Seeger and is considered a stalwart in the American and British folk music scenes.
- Although not the original writer, Seeger’s version of "Freight Train" helped make it a folk standard, gaining popularity in the UK and the US.
- In the early 1950s, Seeger met and collaborated with Elizabeth Cotten extensively. The recording of "Freight Train" was one of the successful outcomes of this collaboration.
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Freight Train" Song Facts"Freight Train" is a folk song that mimics the sound of a locomotive.
- The song was copyrighted more than 40 years after it was written due to its growing popularity.
- Its theme is largely about death and fond remembrance of one's hometown.
- Versions of the song have been covered by several artists in differing genres over the years, from folk to rock, emphasizing its universal appeal and enduring popularity.
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"Freight Train Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/903507/Nancy+Whiskey/Freight+Train>.
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