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29 Jun 07 - 03:48 PM (#2090290) Subject: Cross ties on a Railroad From: GUEST,Jim I know this is a line from "On Top Of Old Smokey", but the song I'm looking for is a Canadian song, written,I think, by an Ottawa songwriter. It was on an early Humber River Valley Boys album and I may have heard Paul Mills sing it. I left my home in the Selkirks, Where the Douglas Fir stands, For the life of a rambler, To seek foreign lands, And so I traded the log chain And the torment of flies For the cross ties on a railroad And the stars in the skies. I did check digitrad, but maybe I have the wrong title for the song. |
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29 Jun 07 - 03:57 PM (#2090296) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: Peace I believe it was written by Dennis Brown. You can find it on one of Bill Garrett's CDs. |
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29 Jun 07 - 03:58 PM (#2090298) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: C. Ham It was written by Dennis Brown of Ottawa. Bill Garrett sang it on an LP he recorded in the 1970s, Bill & Dennis were once a duo in Montreal, circa 1968-69. I ran into Dennis in the crowd at the Ottawa Folk Festival a few years ago and we had a nice chat catching up on old friends and acquaintances from the old days. Dennis was looking good. |
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29 Jun 07 - 03:59 PM (#2090299) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: Peace Yes, it was written by Dennis. Fine guy and good singer. He didn't write often, but when he did it was neat stuff. |
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29 Jun 07 - 04:00 PM (#2090300) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: Peace Sorry. Cross-posted with you, C.Ham. |
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29 Jun 07 - 04:01 PM (#2090302) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: C. Ham Hi Peace, I see we were posting at about the same moment. I think Bill Garrett's version is LP only. |
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29 Jun 07 - 04:04 PM (#2090305) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: Peace Yeah. I think you're right about that. It's a great song. Dennis was a really good guy. Where's he at now? You know? Last I heard he was drivin' a truck--but that was over 20 years back. Did he still have the beard? |
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29 Jun 07 - 04:04 PM (#2090306) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: GUEST,Jim Many thanks to all. It was not Paul Mills, but Bill Garrett that I heard sing it. Paul was playing back-up guitar in his Curly Boy Stubbs persona. I just got out that old record. Does Bill ever look young with black longish hair and a black beard. Nice David Wren guitar too. |
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29 Jun 07 - 04:08 PM (#2090309) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: C. Ham Dennis was clean shaved when I saw him. I think he said he was working on some kind of federal government contract. But it's a few years ago now that I saw him. |
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29 Jun 07 - 04:08 PM (#2090310) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: Peace That song was requested at every gig those guys did. Often by me. It has a beautiful melody, and the tip of the hat to Cisco Houston just adds lots of allure to the song. |
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29 Jun 07 - 04:13 PM (#2090313) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: C. Ham Does Bill ever look young with black longish hair and a black beard. We all looked a little younger 30 years ago. |
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29 Jun 07 - 04:16 PM (#2090314) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: Peace Yeah. About 30 years younger . . . . |
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29 Jun 07 - 11:24 PM (#2090623) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: katlaughing Any chance this could be him? There is also a Dennis Brown who apparently went to some music conference in 2004 and was listed as from Toronto: click |
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29 Jun 07 - 11:26 PM (#2090626) Subject: RE: Cross ties on a Railroad From: katlaughing Looks like WillieO probably knows the words: click |
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08 Sep 12 - 07:14 PM (#3401836) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crossties on a Railroad (Dennis Brown) From: GUEST,999 I will e-mail Bill and get these lyrics. |
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11 Sep 12 - 06:12 PM (#3403041) Subject: ADD: Crossties on a Railroad (Dennis Brown) From: GUEST,LYRIC ADD ................ 999 Crossties On A Railroad written by Dennis Brown CROSSTIES ON A RAILROAD (Dennis Brown) Left my home in the Selkirks, where the Douglas fir stands For the life of a rambler, to seek foreign lands So I traded the log chain and the torment of flies For the crossties on a railroad, and the stars in the sky There's a light rain a falling it'll soon turn to snow And I hear your voice calling from the valley below As I look at your picture you say more with your eyes Than the crossties on a railroad, and the stars in the sky There's a freight whistle pleading way on down the track I'm a blistered and bleeding from the weight of my pack If the wind keeps on howling it'll tell me more lies Than the crossties on a railroad, and the stars in the sky So if ever you wander, if ever you roam If ever you gamble your life and your home Take leave of your senses and soon you'll despise All the crossties on a railroad and the stars in the sky ############################## Special thanks to Bill Garrett for taking the time to supply the lyrics. |
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17 May 15 - 03:40 PM (#3709502) Subject: RE: Lyr Req/ADD: Crossties on a Railroad (Dennis Brown From: GUEST,Rick I heard Rocky and Randy Hill do this yesterday I might have to dig out that old Humber River Valley Boys album. |
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29 Mar 21 - 02:08 PM (#4099828) Subject: RE: Lyr Req/ADD: Crossties on a Railroad (Dennis Brown From: GUEST The Hill Brothers, Hamilton Ontario, played and sang Crossties on a Railroad November 17, 2019, at the closing concert of Artword Artbar in Hamilton. After 10 years wonderful (and exhausing) years, we sold the Artbar. The Hill Brothers: Randal Hill, Rocky Hill, Tim McDonald and Greg Street, played 2 concerts to mark the end of an era. They credited the song to Dennis Brown. If you want to hear the song, here it is: https://youtu.be/pqLtkon3898 |