Annotation:Train on the Island (1)
X:1 T:Train on the Island M:2/4 L:1/8 N:AEae tuning N:notation as fingered, not as sounded. B:Kuntz – Ragged but Right K:A c|e>(f e)c|e>(f|e) e/f/|f/f/e/e/ f/f/a/a/|(A/e)(A e)A/B/||:c/B/c/A/ B/A/A/B/|c/B/A/D/ E/D/D/E/| D/D/E/E/ A/A/c/A/|(D/B)(D B)A/B/|cc/A/ B/A/A/B/|c/A/B/A/ E/D/D/E/|D/D/E/E/ A/A/B/B/|(D/A)(D/ A3:|
TRAIN ON THE ISLAND [1]. Americand, Reel & Song. USA, western North Carolina, southwestern Va. (Galax, Round Peak). A Major (not D Major as has been said of J.P. Nestor and Norman Edmonds' version): G Major (Kimble/Molsky). AEae (Tommy Jarrell) or DGdg (Taylor Kimble, Bruce Molsky) tunings. AABB. A common "band tune" characteristic of Carrol and Patrick Counties, southwestern Va., say Tom Carter and Blanton Owen (1976), who remark, “this piece surfaces in the space between Hillsville and Meadows of Dan.” J.P. Nestor, an early source for the tune who recorded it for Victor in 1927, lived near Laurel Fork, Carroll County, southwestern Virginia. In his book When We Were Good, Robert Cantwell suggests the name of the tune was adapted (by Nestor?) from the Irish reel “Lady on the Island.” Harry Smith (Folkways FA2953, 1952) writes: “The sound of a train is here interpreted on banjo and violin, with a meagre vocal adapted from a work song. The artists are probably both from Virginia.” The title has become “distressed” among a few fiddlers, and has been heard as “Training Island.”
Train on the Island, listen to it squeal,
Go and tell my true love how happy I do feel.
Chorus:
Train on the Island, hear that whistle blow,
Go and tell my true love I'm sick and I can't go.
Bring me a drink of water, bring it in a cup,
Me and my gal we fell out, we ain't never gonna make up.
'Train on the Island, heading to the west,
Me and my gal we fell out, perhaps its for the best.
Make me a banjo out of a gourd, string it up with twine,
The only tune that I can play, I wish that gal was mine.
Show me the crow that flies so high, show me one that falls,
If I don't get the gal I love, I don't want none at all.
Went up on the mountain, went out on the plain,
Went up on the other side to hear my darlin' sing.
Yonder comes my true love, how do you reckon I know,
I tell her by her apron strings, tied up in a double bow. .... [Tommy Jarrell]
