Used To Ride That Train

There must've been hundreds of times over the years that I've tapped out a rhythm on a pan full of water while doing the dishes, the pitch woozily shifting as the h2o sloshes about. At those times I've almost always thought, hey, I should put this on a track sometime. Of course, I never did, until the first MeFi Music Challenge, with its "water" theme. Along with the big metal bowl full of troubled waters, you'll hear jawharp, talking drum, bombo drum, bell, shaker and vocal. [Lyrics and more inside]

(Get Flash to see the track player.)
posted by flapjax at midnite (10 comments total)

Anyone wanting to hear more, check my brand new page at MySpace Music, and/or Polarity Records

Used To Ride That Train

i used to ride that train
from bologna up to amsterdam
used to take me two days to hitchhike
from boston down to birmingham
these days i just stay put
still i don't quite know where i am

i used to ride that train

see that alligator head
got it down in new orleans
it keeps smiling at me
as i sleepwalk through my scenes
that big old toothy grin
i think i know what it means

i used to ride that train

someone's trying to reach me
someone from my past
she sent some kind of message
said she's free at last
but i don't need the trouble
just tie me to the mast

i used to ride that train

i threw a rock in the pond
i'm not sure if it sank
never had a lot of interest
on my little bit of money in the bank
must be a reason i'm alive
right now i'm drawing a blank

but i used to ride that train

copyright 2007 Samm Bennett/Polarity Records - All Rights Reserved
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:12 AM on July 5, 2007

Groovy! I like the water drum pan thingy.
posted by chuckdarwin at 5:22 AM on July 5, 2007

Also, you've been added.
posted by chuckdarwin at 5:25 AM on July 5, 2007

Love it! Percussive beauty. Great voice too!
posted by sindas at 7:25 AM on July 5, 2007

That's a really cool pic on your myspace page. You look like a sane scientist.

I was beginning to be afraid you were not going to come back even with the lure of the challenge, but I'm glad you did.

And what can I say about this song, you know I'm a fan. The UuUuUuU of the water in the pan is really nice, and I really like the blues feeling your lyrics always have. Someday there will be a Tribute album to flapjax where different artists play your songs in acoustic guitars with slides, and it will be just perfect. Welcome back, man.
posted by micayetoca at 8:23 AM on July 5, 2007

Ha, that is a cool pic! The mix of vox and instrumentation is great. Did you do anything special to record the mouth harp? I've tried it a couple of times but never like it. Your's is awesome.
posted by snsranch at 2:30 PM on July 5, 2007

great song. you'd better approve my friend request!!!!!
posted by snofoam at 5:24 PM on July 5, 2007

Thanks for the kind words, y'all.

mica: Yeah, I took a little sabbatical there from MeFiMusic, and it is indeed the challenge that brought me back around this time. I think this challenge thing is great, and although Jessamyn's "water" tag had its share of detractors, personally I thought it was good, especially as a starter for this first time around. Wonder what the next one will be?

snsranch: The mouth harp is the Vietnamese version, called a Dan Troi, and nothing special was done to record it other than use a really good mic. My one really good mic. And I'd recommend to each and all out there to buy a really good mic. Use the 5 dollar ultra-lofi mics when you want a 5 dollar lofi sound (and there are those times...) but you want to hear good sound, use a good mic. My good mic is this one. Fortunately I got it at a lower price than advertised there on that link: bought it used from a friend back in NYC about 12 years ago, and been using it ever since.

And on preview, snofoam, I'm heading over to MySpace now to check that friend request!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:33 PM on July 5, 2007 [1 favorite]

snofoam: You are befriended! Howdy pardner! Set a spell! Take your shoes off!

I remember "Everybody Lies a Little" from here at MeFiMu. Nice! And those hats! Good lord, what in the world are you guys thinking?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:39 PM on July 5, 2007

This song is grand, flapjax.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 9:27 PM on July 8, 2007