Do you ever get the feeling that you are on a train to nowhere? In New York City many years ago Lea and I rode the subway trains from Times Square to Staten Island. It was dark, mysterious and somewhat frightening as we raced down rickety tracks of the underground tunnels, wheels squealing and sparks a-flying. The subways in NYC are named alphabetically hence: the 'F Train'. Our destination was the Statue of Liberty. The announcer informed us that we had to make our way to the front car if we were going to the ferry. Lea froze when she saw where we had to jump, protected only by a small chain barrier. She shook her head and said "No way". We stood there for a minute, contemplating our plunging death on the train tracks, when suddenly, a little lady pushed past us, easily boarding the front car with confidence. Lea announced, "Well, if she can do it, we can too." She took a deep breath and jumped...and we survived to tell the story.
That's us waiting for the F Train. See the 'F" in the yellow circle? Like I said, dark, mysterious and freaky. Especially, when a guy stepped onto the car with a huge back pack and pulled out a long barrelled item. What do you think it was? He flipped a switch and music blared out of his pack as he tooted happily on his trumpet. Lea and I got up and danced a jig to show our appreciation. On a train car full of soured faces and no smiles, we had them all laughing and clapping by the end of the ride. Shows you what small town mentality can do in a big city.
Here's the trumpet man blowin' fine for a nickel or a dime. There's me in the back seat sporting my New York City touque! An epic song had to be written to commemorate our adventures in Manhattan. Instead of a trumpet we got Gerry Potter to become the entire horn section; blowing multiple harmony sax riffs. Here is a little known fact about the slide guitar on this song. Peter Mitchell Honychurch recorded his parts in his own studio in Victoria. First we sent him the files...then he sent us the files and then Shawn Stewart had to sort it all out in his Langley Studio which was nicknamed 'Hangover Studios'. The Sunday I had to sing my vocals was the morning after a good night of drinking. Scotch, rye, bourbon or wine...or all of them. Needless to say, I had a deep, gruff voice that could hit some low notes on the scale. It makes one think about guys like Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash or even Hank Williams Jr. And who doesn't love a train song? It's got a rumbling, driving rhythm that gets you moving and rolling down the track.
One cold and rainy afternoon in NYC, we saw a boring movie in an ancient theatre right across from B.B. King's blues club. We went there for dinner and discovered two things. First, it happened to be Monday night blues jam with an open mike and second, we got to enjoy the most gigantic shrimp cocktail we'd ever seen. After quickly jotting down the lyrics onto a napkin, Lea got up onstage and sang 'Stormy Monday Blues' with a couple of other regulars. It was a night to remember.
On our trip back from New York, we stayed in Toronto for a day or so. We tripped around Castle Loma in the cold bitter snow with my mom, Jola. We played music with my brothers James and Chuck and had fun with my weird and wacky family.
I recommend going on lots of trips and visiting family often! It expands the mind, heart and soul and might even make you write a song or two. Until next time I think I'll catch me a ride on the F Train.
To listen to ' F Train ' right now, click here:
https://twistedgitarco.wixsite.com/marksheldan/my-songs
to listen on Spotify, click here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4pR0NP6LKtS1Vz75TReZFy?si=BiB09gt9Rx-a09z_U5pzeg
Sing along with the lyrics below:
F Train
Catch me a ride on the F Train
To the end of the line on the F Train
Feel the rumble ‘neath the seat
Check out 42nd Street
Catch me a ride on the F Train
Ride all night long on the F Train
Ain’t no right or wrong on the F Train
Roll along underground
This train’s New York City bound
Ride all night long on the F Train
People acting strange on the F Train
Get ready for a change on the F Train
Some trumpet man blowing fine
For a nickel or a dime
People acting strange on the F Train
Can you feel the groove on the F Train?
My body likes to move on the F Train
When the sky is turning dark
We’ll get off at Central Park
Catch me a groove on the F Train
Come on take a chance on the F Train
Go into a trance on the F Train
Do the Village, do the Square
You can do it anywhere
Let’s take a chance on the F Train
Catch me a ride on the F Train (F Train)
Ride all night long on the F Train (F Train)
People acting strange on the F Train (F Train)
Can you feel the groove on the F Train? (F Train)
Catch me a ride on the F Train (F Train)
written by Mark Sheldan
copyright 1999 Socan
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