Trains and railroads featured heavily in early country and blues music. This song is a throwback to those times and references artists such as Jimmie Rodgers who rose to popularity in the late 1920s and is widely regarded as “the Father of Country Music”. One of Rodgers' most popular songs is calle...
[Verse 1]
I jumped off a boxcar down around Tennessee
I was cold, tired and dirty hungry as I could be
But I had my guitar and a hundred railroad songs
So I asked the policeman
Can I stay here long
He said Mr. Hobo you got to go now
We don't want you around
See I'm trying to build me a respectable town
And we don't need a hobo like you hangin' around
[Verse 2]
So I left that town, Lord, had my guitar in my hand
Still cold and tired, kinda mad at the man
But this life that I chose to live, sometimes is strange
See I'm trying to learn about the old music from riding the train
I'm a hobo I know, but that's the price I pay
Guess I'll write me another song while I'm on my way
I'm-a catch me another train and this is what I'll say
Mr. Choo-choo train, take me away
Choo-choo train
[Verse 3]
Well I'm-a ride this train Lord until I find out
What Jimmie Rodgers and the Hag was all about
See I, I play this rock n roll, I think that's fine
But I'd like to go back a little further in time
I'm a hobo I know, but that's the price I pay
Guess I'll write me another song while I'm on my way
Catch me another train and this is what I'll say
Mr. Choo-choo train
Choo-choo train
Railroad Song was written by Ronnie Van Zant & Ed King.
Railroad Song was produced by Al Kooper.
Lynyrd Skynyrd released Railroad Song on Sun Mar 24 1974.