Freight Train
Peter Paul And Mary · Other Songs - Peter Paul And Mary
Freight train freight train goin' so fast
Freight train freight train goin' so fast
Please don't tell what train I'm on
So they won't know where I've gone.
Freight train, freight train, comin' round the bend
Freight train, freight train, gone again
One of these days turn that train around
Go back to my hometown.
[Chorus]
One more place I'd like to be
One more place I'd love to see
To watch those old blue ridge mountains climb
As I ride ol' number nine.
[Chorus]
When I die please bury me deep
Down at the end of Bleecker street
So I can hear ol' number nine
As she goes rollin' by.
[Chorus]
Freight Train
Peter, Paul and Mary's rendition of "Freight Train" stands as a defining example of their signature folk harmony style. The trio transformed this instrumental composition into a vocal showcase, weaving their distinct voices around the song's driving, percussive rhythm. Recorded during their early years of prominence, the track highlights their ability to adapt traditional material into accessible, polished pop-folk arrangements. The recording captures the group's tight interplay and acoustic warmth, qualities that helped establish them as leading figures in the American folk revival. By focusing on the song's rhythmic momentum and melodic simplicity, the performance remains a timeless song in their extensive discography, reflecting the era's preference for unadorned, emotionally resonant music.