Like a lot of old American folk ballads and African American spirituals, "This Train" (or "This Train is Bound for Glory) has lots and lots of variations. The Woody Guthrie version that Nancy posted is one of the iconic one, of course, adapted by Guthrie during the folk music revivals of the 1950s.
The earliest known recording of the song dates back to 1922 by the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute Quartet. You can sample an amazing recording
https://amzn.to/2NfuhbU.
Of course the song itself dates back many more years. It was popular in the 1920's as a religious tune.
This train is bound for glory - this train;
This train is bound for glory - this train;
This train is bound for glory - all who ride it must be holy;
This train, this train, this train.
This train has left the station - this train;
This train has left the station - this train;
This train has left the station - this train takes on every nation;
This train, this train, this train.
This train don't carry no liars - this train;
This train don't carry no liars - this train;
This train don't carry no liars - no false pretenders, no back-biters;
This train, this train, this train.
This train don't pull no gamblers - this train;
This train don't pull no gamblers - this train;
This train don't pull no gamblers - no crap-shooters, no midnight ramblers;
This train, this train, this train.
This train is a clean train - this train;
This train is a clean train - this train;
This train is a clean train - everybody ride it in Jesus' name;
This train, this train, this train.
Here's another popular arrangement.
This train is for glory this train
This train is bound for glory this train
This train is bound for glory
Don’t ride nothing but the righteous and the holy
This train is bound for glory this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers
No hypocrites no midnight ramblers
This train is bound for glory this train
This train is built for speed now this train
This train is built for speed now this train
This train is built for speed now
Fastest train you ever did see
This train is bound for glory this train
This train don’t carry no liars this train
This train don’t carry no liars this train
This train don’t carry no liars
No hypocrites and no high flyers
This train is bound for glory this train
This train don’t pay no transportaition this train
This train don’t pay no transportaition this train
This train don’t pay no transportaition
No Jim Crow and no discrimination
This train is bound for glory this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers
Sidestreet walkers two-bit hustlers
This train is bound for glory this train
Sister Rosetta Tharpe--the first African American artist to sign with a major label, recorded "This Train" and made it a hit for Decca records. You can see a great performance of it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6L5grLqkA0
As with many of these old folk songs, you'll find tons of variations and adaptations--and can even make up your own!
Like a lot of old American folk ballads and African American spirituals, "This Train" (or "This Train is Bound for Glory) has lots and lots of variations. The Woody Guthrie version that Nancy posted is one of the iconic one, of course, adapted by Guthrie during the folk music revivals of the 1950s.
The earliest known recording of the song dates back to 1922 by the Florida Normal and Industrial Institute Quartet. You can sample an amazing recording [url]https://amzn.to/2NfuhbU[/url].
Of course the song itself dates back many more years. It was popular in the 1920's as a religious tune.
This train is bound for glory - this train;
This train is bound for glory - this train;
This train is bound for glory - all who ride it must be holy;
This train, this train, this train.
This train has left the station - this train;
This train has left the station - this train;
This train has left the station - this train takes on every nation;
This train, this train, this train.
This train don't carry no liars - this train;
This train don't carry no liars - this train;
This train don't carry no liars - no false pretenders, no back-biters;
This train, this train, this train.
This train don't pull no gamblers - this train;
This train don't pull no gamblers - this train;
This train don't pull no gamblers - no crap-shooters, no midnight ramblers;
This train, this train, this train.
This train is a clean train - this train;
This train is a clean train - this train;
This train is a clean train - everybody ride it in Jesus' name;
This train, this train, this train.
Here's another popular arrangement.
This train is for glory this train
This train is bound for glory this train
This train is bound for glory
Don’t ride nothing but the righteous and the holy
This train is bound for glory this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers
No hypocrites no midnight ramblers
This train is bound for glory this train
This train is built for speed now this train
This train is built for speed now this train
This train is built for speed now
Fastest train you ever did see
This train is bound for glory this train
This train don’t carry no liars this train
This train don’t carry no liars this train
This train don’t carry no liars
No hypocrites and no high flyers
This train is bound for glory this train
This train don’t pay no transportaition this train
This train don’t pay no transportaition this train
This train don’t pay no transportaition
No Jim Crow and no discrimination
This train is bound for glory this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers
Sidestreet walkers two-bit hustlers
This train is bound for glory this train
Sister Rosetta Tharpe--the first African American artist to sign with a major label, recorded "This Train" and made it a hit for Decca records. You can see a great performance of it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6L5grLqkA0
As with many of these old folk songs, you'll find tons of variations and adaptations--and can even make up your own! :)