“Nine Hundred Miles”
Description
"I'm a walking down the track, I've got tears in my eyes, Trying to read a letter from my home. If that train runs me right I'll be home tomorrow night." The singer will pawn anything or do whatever is needed to get home (to his sweetheart)
Notes
Some versions of "Reuben's Train," such as the Grayson/Whitter "Train 45" recording, are so mixed with this song that it's literally impossible to tell whether they are versions of this song or that; those interested should consult the references to both songs. - RBW
"Five Hundred Miles," composed by Hedy West and popular in the 1960s folk revival, is essentially a rewrite of this song with a different tune, but several overlapping verses. - PJS
Cross references
- cf. "Rain and Snow" (opening lines of tune)
- cf. "Reuben's Train"
Recordings
- Fiddlin' John Carson "I'm 900 Miles from my Home" (OKeh 40196, 1924)
- George & Bobby Childers, "Five Hundred Miles" (on FolkVisions2)
- Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston, "Nine Hundred Miles" (on AschRec2)
- Riley Puckett, "Nine Hundred Miles from Home" (Columbia 15563-D, 1930)
References
- Cohen-LSRail, pp. 503-517, "Reuben's Train/Train 45/900 Miles" (2 texts plus exceprts equivalent to about three more, 2 tunes; the first text is close to "Reuben's Train," the second to "Nine Hundred Miles," but the article is mostly devoted to showing how the two songs mix)
- BrownIII 285, "The Midnight Dew" (1 text, with an unusual introductory verse but most of the rest goes here)
- Lomax-FSUSA 73, "900 Miles" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Botkin-RailFolklr, p. 464, "900 Miles" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Silber-FSWB, p. 53, "Nine Hundred Miles" (1 text)
- DT, MILES900
- Roud #4959
- BI, LxU073