tom waits
The song was first recorded by Johnny Cash on 7th of December 1993, for the first of his six studio albums produced by Rick Rubin, trying to reestablish the fading country legend. It was released 26th of April the following year. At that time, I'd wiped Cash off my mind since two decades or more, and I first heard this in 2003; after his death I collected all these "American Recordings" - the title of the first album became the unofficial title for the entire final collection, as well as it was the name of the record label.*)
Coming to this track, I simply got angry. The bloke hadn't even bothered tuning his guitar. I hurtled over it and didn't even mention the songwriter, who I instinctively thought was himself, writing another hymn for the Lord and the Christianity. Then, lately, I've learned that Tom Waits wrote this for Johnny Cash ... but I refuse to believe it. Waits hardly ever wrote, or writes, songs on demand. He's not a prostitute. And these two artists never had a relationship; maybe they never even met.
I bet that Waits wrote this for his Island album "Bone Machine" (1994), and it became a leftover. Rick Rubin was collecting songs for Cash to cover, and came across this in his wide backyard of music industry. The song is NOT religious, only using scriptural terms to explain and underscore the human fear of death, featuring the inevitable fact that we're all going to die, whatever we've done. In 1994, Waits stated that «With the God stuff I don't know. Everybody ponders it. I don't know what's out there any more than anyone else, cause no one's really come back to tell me.» ¡Caramba! Nobody ever game ME a clue, either.**)
"Down there where the train goes slow" means where you can hop it. And leave all you feel you've done wrong. The train leaves for infinity. The train - a very common symbol in "American" songwriting - is an inanimate object used as an artefact, no more, no less, in order to paint a background. But the Man in Black OF COURSE made the song a hymn.
Waits finally found a place for this "leftover" in "Orphans - Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards", a triple CD released on "Anti-" 20th of November 2006; a mix of rarities, unreleased material and new recordings. It was first released in Europe as a "limited edition", but highly positive reviews brought it to the rest of the world, and on 8th of December 2009 a 7-disc vinyl box set was released, added an EP with bonus tracks.
I found this by accident, thanks to a good fairy on my shoulder. The same way, I also found "Yesterday Is Here". I'd almost also forgot Waits except for some early, classical tunes. The song is located to the "Bawlers" section. You don't have to rape your throat singing it; normal passion is fair enough. But tune your guitar, damn it! And be sure to keep the harmonies that the Man in Black didn't bother or wasn't able to ...
... then we have another song to bawl, waiting for the train to slow down.
well there's a place I know where the train goes slow
where the sinners can be washed in the blood of the lamb
there's a river by the trestle over by sinner's grove
down where the willow and the dogwood grows
:::/:::down there by the train:::/:::
down there where the train goes slow
you can hear the whistle: you can hear the bell
from the halls of Heaven to the gates of Hell
and there's room for the forsaken if you're there on time
you'll be washed of all your sins and all of your crimes
:::/:::down there by the train:::/:::
down there where the train goes slow
there's a golden moon that shines up through the mist
and I know that your name will be on that list
there's no eye for an eye : there's no tooth for a tooth
I saw Judas Iscariot carrying John Wilkes Booth
:::/:::down there by the train:::/:::
down there where the train goes slow
so if you live in darkness : if you live in shame
all of the passengers will be treated the same
Old Humpty Jackson and Gyp the Blood will sing
and Charlie Whitman is holding on to Dillinger's wings
:::/:::down there by the train:::/:::
down there where the train goes slow
if you've lost all your hope you've lost all your faith
I know you will be cared for : I know you will be safe
and all of the shameful and all of the whores
and even the soldier who pierced the heart of the Lord
:::/:::down there by the train:::/:::
down there where the train goes slow
I've never asked forgiveness : I've never said a prayer
I've never given of myself and I've never truly cared
I've hurt the ones who love me and I'm still raising Cain
I've taken the low road and if you've done the same ...meet me
:::/:::down there by the train:::/:::
down there where the train goes slow
*)
The phenomenon "CASH : American Recordings" is an inconsistent experience, from excellent to lousy and annoying. He had an unique, sonorous baritone which together with his image made him a legend, so the last two albums should never have been released in respect to his posthumous reputation. But here they are, according to Wiki, in order:
American Recordings (1994): The legendary rebirth of Johnny Cash's career. Recorded primarily in Cash's cabin and Rubin's living room, it featured Cash performing alone with his acoustic guitar.
Unchained (1996): Backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, this album won the Grammy for Best Country Album and featured Cash covering songs by Soundgarden, Beck, and his son-in-law, Nick Lowe.
American III: Solitary Man (2000): A more reflective album that featured covers of U2, Neil Diamond, and Tom Petty, largely recorded while Cash was battling pneumonia and other health issues.
American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002): The final album released during Cash's lifetime, featuring his definitive, heartbreaking cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" alongside original tracks and a cover of Sting's "Personal Jesus".
American V: A Hundred Highways (2006): The first posthumous release, featuring final vocals recorded in the months leading up to Cash's death in 2003.
American VI: Ain't No Grave (2010): The final installment in the series, featuring Cash's last studio recordings as he faced the end of his life.
**)
«There is no devil; it's only God when he's drunk.» -waitsism-
«There is no God; it's only the devil when she's sober.» -khawism-
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G [Em] [Cmaj7] C G well there's a place I know where the train goes slow ... Em A7 D where the sinners can be washed in the blood of the lamb ... C G B7 Em there's a river by the trestle over by sinner's grove C Bm B7 Em down where the willow and the dogwood grows Cmaj7 G down there by the train G D down there by the train C Em down there by the train Cmaj7 C down there by the train G [Em] D6 D7 G down there where the train goes slow
