THIS TRAIN

THIS TRAIN

There are two basic forms of this song, the “This Train” version in the description and a

type he calls “Same Train”: “Same train carry my mother, same train (x2). Same train

carry my mother, same train be back tomorrow, same train.” The version in American

Ballads and Folk Songs, which probably is the source of most pop folk versions, claims

to be based on a field recording by Walter McDonald, but in fact does not agree with that

recording, and the later Alan Lomax version in Folk Songs of North America says it’s

based on American Ballads and Folk Songs, but it again is rewritten. From what I have

learned the lyrics presented here were written by Sister Rosetta Tharpe around 1938.

This train is bound for glory, this train,

This train is bound for glory,

Don’t ride nothin’ but the righteous an’ 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

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

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,

No hypocrites and no high flyers,

This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train don’t pay no transportation, this train,

This train don’t pay no transportation

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

Sidestreet walkers, two-bit hustlers,

This train is bound for glory, this train

Banjo Mountain