Lyr Req: The East Bound Train / Going for a Pardon

Subject: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: birdwoman
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 05:56 PM

I am looking for a particular song, and having trouble finding it. I do not know the name of the song. It is a song about a little girl traveling on a train to see her daddy who is suppose to be in prison, and is almost dead. I do not know anything else about the song other than that. I would appreciate it if anyone who knows anything about this song would please let me know. Thank You Very Much, S. Widenhouse [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: Gene
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 08:53 PM

Either one of these ring a bell?

Little Box Of Pine On The 7:29

In The Baggage Coach Ahead

Subject: Lyr Add: THE EASTBOUND TRAIN
From: Banjer
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 11:00 PM

The song you seek is entitled The Eastbound Train. I can't for the life of me recall the artist, however. Some of the lyrics as I remember them are:

The Eastbound Train
The Eastbound train was crowded, one cold December day
The conductor shouted 'Tickets' in his old familiar way
A little girl in sadness, her hair was bright as gold
Said 'Sir, I have no ticket, and then her story told.

My Daddy he's in prison, he's almost blind they say
I'm going for his pardon, this cold December day
My mother's daily sewing, trying to earn our bread,
While poor old lonesome daddy lies in prison almost dead.

My mother and my sister would both be very glad
If I could only bring home my dear, old lonesome dad.
The conductor could not answer, nor make the least reply
For taking his hand and brushing a teardrop from his eye,
He said 'God Bless you litle one, you stay right where you are, for you'll not need a ticket,
As long as I'm on this car....

Thats all of it I can remember....

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: Gene
Date: 18 Sep 99 - 02:45 AM

Recorded by these and MANY other artists-

Martin & Roberts/East bound train
McFarland & Gardner/The east bound train
Stoneman, Ernest V./East bound train
Blue Sky Boys/The east bound train
Walsh, Dock/East bound train
Grandpa Jones/East bound train

Subject: Lyr Add: THE EAST BOUND TRAIN (The Blue Sky Boys)
From: Gene
Date: 18 Sep 99 - 03:09 AM

Here's one version...

THE EAST BOUND TRAIN
Recorded by: The Blue Sky Boys
Writers: Thorton & Hauenschild

The Eastbound train was crowded
One cold December day
The conductor shouted 'Tickets'
In his old-time fashion way.

A little girl in sadness
Her hair as bright as gold
She said, I have no ticket
And then her story told.

My Father he's in prison
He lost his sight they say
I'm going for his pardon
This cold December day.

My mother's daily sewing
To try to earn our bread
While poor, dear, old blind father
Is in prison almost dead.

My brother and my sister
Would both be very glad
If I could only bring back
My poor, dear, old blind dad.

The conductor could not answer
He could not make reply
While taking his rough hand wiping
The teardrops from his eye

He said 'God Bless you little one
Just stay right where you are
You'll never need a ticket
While I am on this car.

SOURCE:
SMITHSONIAN COLLECTION OF CLASSIC COUNTRY MUSIC

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: Banjer
Date: 18 Sep 99 - 08:40 AM

My version was done strictly from memory, Gene's from a written source. I would suspect his is probably more closely related to the original. The folk process at work again! Thanks Gene, for the artist info. I didn't realize so many had done that song. I think the version I have but cannot find right now was done by either Ernest Tubb or possibly Red Sovine. When I get a chance I'll dig for it, I'm curious now!

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: Banjer
Date: 18 Sep 99 - 03:38 PM

I got a chance and dug up that record..It was a fellow named Jimmy Martin doing songs made famous by....Hank Snow. Pretty song...

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: Banjer
Date: 19 Sep 99 - 04:55 PM

I refreshed this just in case birdwoman came looking for results to her query and couldn't find it.

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: Gene
Date: 19 Sep 99 - 06:20 PM

After checking...Grandpa Jones recorded

East Bound Freight Train, a different song...

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 04:34 AM

I sent an e-mail to birdwoman to let her know her answer's here.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: birdwoman
Date: 22 Sep 99 - 03:39 PM

Thank you all so much for your responses to my questions on the little girl on a train song. I got exactly what I needed. S. Widenhouse

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: birdwoman
Date: 22 Sep 99 - 03:41 PM

Would anyone on the list have the music to the little girl on the train song? I would really appreciate a copy of it if you do. Thank You, S. Widenhouse

Subject: Lyr Add: GOING FOR A PARDON
From: raredance
Date: 23 Sep 99 - 12:08 AM

Norm Cohen in "Long Steel Rail" (Univ. Illinois Press 1981) puts forth the argument that "East Bound Train" is a secondary ballad that traces its roots to the song "Going for A Pardon." The latter had lyrics by James Thornton and Clara Hauenschild and music by Thornton. It was copyrighted and published in 1896 by Joseph Stern & Company. The first recording of "East Bound Train" that Cohen found was made on Oct. 3, 1925 in Atlanta by Dock Walsh, a native of North Carolina. Cohen published the Dock Walsh lyrics and melody line. They lyrics are the same as the Smithsonian set listed above. Check your libraries for a copy of the book or email me for a photocopy. The reasons Cohen gives for the "East Bound Train" being a secondary ballad include: Thornton's original 4/4 tune replaced by an unrelated waltz melody; the second half of Thornton's lyrics and the chorus have been dropped; numerous word and rhyme changes; opening line change that resulted in the new title. Cohen could not find a direct origin of the "East Bound Train." Dock Walsh claimed he learned it from Tom Church, a left-handed banjo player from Lenoir, NC. For comparison purposes, I have included the Thornton lyrics below.

GOING FOR A PARDON
(Words, James Thornton & Clara Hauenschild; music, James Thornton; 1896.)
"Introduced and sung with great success by Bonnie Thornton."

The railroad train was crowded, on a cold December day;
Conductor shouted, "Tickets!" in his old accustomed way;
When a little girl of seven, azure eyes and hair of gold,
Said, "I've got no ticket, Mister," then this little story told:
"My mother sews, to earn our bread, from early morn till night;
My father is in prison, and they say he's lost his sight."
She then told him of her mission, and how she ran away
To go and see the Governor, and for a pardon pray.

CHORUS: She was going for a pardon, on that cold December day,
A pardon for her dad, whose sight was fading fast away;
She said her little sister and brother would be glad
If she would only bring them back her poor blind dad.

The conductor tried to answer, but he couldn't make reply,
As with his big, rough hand he wiped a teardrop from his eye;
Softly murmuring, "God bless you, little one, stay where you are;
You will never need a ticket while I am on this car."
She told him in a whisper how her father broke the Laws,
But loved his wife and babies, and how liquor was the cause.
When the train had reached the station, he took her by the hand
And led her from the depot to the Gov'nor's mansion grand. CHORUS

When the Gov'nor heard her story, he wondered at her plea;
As from her baby lips came forth, "Please set my father free,
He is getting old and feeble, and his shaven head is gray;
And besides, you know, poor Dad is blind and cannot find his way.
Just then the Gov'nor's child came in and saw Nell on her knees,
A-praying for a pardon, she said "Sign it, papa, please!"
Next day the Gov'nor led her up to a prison cell,
Unlock'd the door and sent the poor blind father home with Nell. CHORUS

Other recordings of Eastbound Train include:

Nelstone's Hawaiians (called "Northbound Train)
Riley Puckett
Dan Quinn
Red Allen,
Rex Allen
Beavers
Flatt & Scruggs
Jim Greer and the Mac-O-Chee Valley Folks
Kentucky Mountaineers
Ray & Ina Patterson
Jimmy Williams & Red Ellis
Earl Wright.

rich r

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: Gene
Date: 23 Sep 99 - 12:15 AM

Thanks for the additional lyrics and INFO Rich..

Subject: RE: Little Girl On A Train Song Question
From: Dale Rose
Date: 23 Sep 99 - 12:26 AM

GOING FOR A PARDON at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. There will be a link at the bottom of the page to access the rest of the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: EAST BOUND TRAIN (GOING FOR A PARDON)
From:
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 02:27 AM

have the lyrics for eastbound train but would like the song to download on a disc. i am trying to put together a cd of songs that my mother used to sing and have all but that one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eastbound Train (Going for a Pardon)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 03:00 AM

Hi, Annc - I suppose the easiest place to get the song is on a Vanguard CD called Old Timey Concert, by Doc Watson. The Blue Sky Boys recorded it, but I think their recording is available only on box sets. There's a great early recording of the song by Ernest Stoneman on a CD called Ernest Stoneman: 1928 Edison Recordings (click - not sure this will work).
I looked all over, and couldn't find that song on any of the CD's I have.
Hope that helps.
-Joe Offer-