FREIGHT TRAIN
五十至六十年代中, 正處美國民歌復興時期, 而英國的新浪潮Skiffle 音樂亦開始興起之時, 一首被普羅樂迷歡迎的歌曲面世, 迅速引起歐美流行樂壇一番迴響。
"FREIGHT TRIAN" 原曲的創作人是來自美國東南部, 北卡羅連娜 North Carolina 一個城市, 是1905年的作品, 完成後從來沒有在美國本土公開過。歌曲內容是唱出一個女子的心聲; 愛人犯了重罪, 像隨着貨運火車聲離去, 不知所踪, 生死未卜, 亦知他難逃法網, 會面對審判至處死的一天, 旦願他被好好安葬而已。樂迷你們是在那個年代, 從那一位歌手或樂隊認識 "FREIGHT TRAIN" 這首民歌呢? Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul & Mary?
大西洋彼岸 - 英國 Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group & Nancy Whiskey
來自蘇格蘭的青年歌手; 1955年在倫敦組成樂隊在酒吧歌廳賣藝。一年後, 他找來一首不知來歴的歌曲 "Freight Train" 推介給經理人 Bill Varley, 兩人合作把歌詞撰改並計劃錄製唱片, 最後因為歌詞内容而邀請女歌手 Nancy Whiskey 加入 Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group 樂隊任主唱; 1957年二月, Nancy 把此曲完成錄音, 唱片在英國面世後, 即登上 UK Single Chart 榜上第五位。
FREIGHT TRAIN - Nancy Whiskey with The Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group
Lyric: Billy Varley, Chas McDevitt
CHORUS
Freight train, freight train, going so fast
Freight train, freight train, going so fast
i don't know what train he's on
Won't you tell me where he's gone
Don't know where he's headin' for
What he's done against the law
Got no future, got no hope
Just nothin' but the rope
CHORUS
He lost his reason, lost his life
He killed his friend in mortal strife
He must have moved like the golden skies
Just awaitin' til he dies
CHORUS
When he dies, just bury him, please
Way down the end of old Chestnut Street
Poplars at his head and feet
And tell them he's gone to sleep
CHORUS
Freight train, freight train, going so fast
Freight train, freight train, going so fast
I don't know what train he's on
Won't you tell me where he's gone
歌曲面世後, Nancy Whiskey 離開樂隊, McDevitt 的樂隊再沒有多大成就, 至1959年解散。繼而 McDevitt 與妻子 Shirley Douglas 的二人組合在樂壇出現; 1970年, 婚姻破裂, 夫妻組合亦告終。
'FREIGHT TRAIN" 這首不知原創作人名字的歌曲, 經五十二年後, 給英國樂壇帶來一番新氣象, 不少年青歌手或樂隊爭相翻唱, 包括當年有 John Lennon 在陣的樂隊 "The Quarrymen" 亦不例外, 可惜沒有他們此曲的錄音, 還好有今天的資訉科技, John Lennon 雖然不能再出現, 而當前的 "Quarrymen" 仍可帶給樂迷一些回憶。
FREIGHT TRAIN - The Quarrymen 2009