Songs that you associate with public transport.

[E_Reeves]

Rattle That Lock by David Gilmour somehow reminds me of travelling in France... Maybe because most of the song is composed of the SNCF jingle

 

[nr758123]

At the moment (insert footage of the Transport Select Committee here),

No-one is to blame - Howard Jones

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Lipstick Vogue by Elvis Costello used to remind me of hammering past the Jubilee with a fast Met train and low and behold I eventually discover that 'the tune was based on the rhythm of the Metropolitan line where it was written'.

 

[Merthyr Imp]

Homeward Bound

 

[ac6000cw]

There are, of course, plenty of American railroad songs. For me the best is "City of New Orleans" which describes very atmospherically a long overnight journey.

Passin' trains that have no names,
Railyards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles

Night time on the City of New Orleans
Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee

etc

Surprisingly it was written as recently as 1971.

...and the well known 'Rock Island Line' (recorded by many artists since the early 1930s including Lonnie Donegan and Johnny Cash). Pity the railroad it takes its title from was dismembered in the 1980s following bankruptcy.

 

[DarloRich]

Down in the tube station at midnight

 

[AJM580]

Another track from Jean Michelle Jarre - magnetic Fields IV (features some sounds of SNCF).

 

[Harbornite]

Trans Europe Express and down in the tube station at midnight, among others.

 

[roversfan2001]

Yesterday, Today and Probably Tomorrow by the Courteeners is one of many.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

"Take the A Train" (Duke Ellington)

 

[Dai Corner]

Red Light Spells Danger (Billy Ocean).

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Runcorn Ferry by Stanley Holloway (assuming monologues count)

 

[DarloRich]

Carter Takes a train

 

[krus_aragon]

How about this one about 21st Century buses
Official version:

Don't forget the one about 20th century buses: (1 minute in)

 

[Lucan]

The Great American Railway

It was a "campfire" song I remember as a child.

 

[overthewater]

 

[theblackwatch]

Pasadenas - Riding on a train

 

[amateur]

The jam. Going undergound

 

[theblackwatch]

At the moment (insert footage of the Transport Select Committee here),

No-one is to blame - Howard Jones

I have a different offering from Howard Jones - "Like to get to know you well". The reason is because I can remember watching him perform this on Bristol Temple Meads station on Top of the Pops back in 1984. Video of it here:

 

[Dai Corner]

Is Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi stretching the definition of public transport too far?

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Time Flies By (When Your the Driver of a Train)
Take your pick from the Brian Cant or Half Man Half Biscuit versions.

 

[deltic1989]

Anything by Jefferson Airplane.
Weird Al Yankovic - Another One Rides the Bus
The Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man
The Vengaboys - We Like to Party (The Vengabus)
Gerry and the Pacemakers - Ferry Across the Mersey
Mystery Train - The King (Elvis)

 

[Dai Corner]

In Green Green Grass of Home Tom Jones arrives by train.

 

[90019]

5:15 - The Who

 

[birchesgreen]

"Yes Sir, That's My Baby"

Why? My earliest memory is being sat on a WMPTE Fleetline (55 route) singing that with my Mum (obviously to the delight of the other passengers...)

 

[pdeaves]

I don't think anyone's mentioned The Move's 'Turkish Tram Conductor Blues'.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

There is also the revenue's favourite Everly Brothers song 'Please Mr.Conductor Don't Put me off of this train'

 

[pdeaves]

For those who remember Glasgow suburban services from 'a certain era', Johnny Cash recorded 'Blue Train'.

 

[Warwick]

Chattanooga cho-choo - Glen Miller
Pasadena - The Temperance Seven

 

[Table 52]

Johnny Duncan - Last Train To San Fernando. "Bee-dee-dee-dee-bom-bom to San Fernando" (look it up!)

On a side note, does the National Rail Enquiries phone line still exist? I recall much merriment calling them, telling them I was travelling from Birmingham to "Clarksville" and asking what time the last train was, while inserting into the conversation things like "I'm meeting my friend there as he has my reservation so I can't be slow..."

They'd always try searching for it and never get the joke.