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Chris Smither — Train Home
Album: Train Home
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 725









Released: 2003
Length: 4:06
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Take a look inside,
I got nothin' left to hide,
take me as I am,
not what I wanna be.
The why we'll never know, we passed that long ago.
Is and was is all we're ever gonna be.

He's almost shade, down by the river,
feels a breath that makes him shiver,
takes a breath and makes a dive alone.
But the dead don't get no vacation,
down in that subway station,
the only break they take is to the bone.
They waitin' on a train to take 'em home.

I don't think I see much of anything for me
in visions of the past or the ever-after.
Now is what can be,
all the rest is wait and see,
those prophets never hear that cosmic laughter.

And gypsies in their wagons rollin'
never hear those death bells tollin',
never take no notice of the tone.
But I do, and my pulse beats quicker,
scornful laughs and knowing snickers,
stop my heart and sink it like a stone.
And I'm waitin' on a train to take me home.

This ain't what it seems, it's not the stuff of dreams,
nothing is as clear as this confusion.
The somewhat welcome news
is there is no way to lose,
because what isn't real is genuine illusion.

And it's all about that graveyard dancin',
some sit still, some still prancin',
some get caught between them
in a zone where there's nothin' left to give 'em cover,
they can't even see each other,
they just step and stumble on their own.
They waitin' on a train to take 'em home.

They waitin' on a train,
I'm waitin' on a train,
we all waitin' on a train to take us home.
Comments (47)add comment
 Sloggydog wrote:

So underrated.  If you haven't heard it before Live as I'll ever be is an absolute must have album.  

Don't know about the guy lower down but I saw him in Kilburn a few years back and he was fantastic.  Hardly say he didn't embrace the crowd as he pretty much finished and walked the couple of metres to the bar to drink with those who came to the gig.  Great performance by a great performer.


Mr. Chris suggested that CD as a way of getting to know his worked, so I did, and he signed it to hubby and me. 

He is a fantastic performer and excellent story teller. A highly recommended live performer. 
Sounded a bit like Burle Ives. Great song though!
Seen him live several times. His insane guitar playing is fascinating to see. I'm convinced he has the strongest left pinkie in all of humanity.
great tune, heard it first on a folksy station many years ago, this needs to be on a heavier rotation. 
always great to have the existential crisis on display in a song.  
 dcal6666 wrote:
Chris is a fantastic songwriter. I'm surprised he has not gained more notoriety. I highly recommend listening to , "Origin of Species," "Leave The Light On," and many other of his songs! I saw him 2/14 in Northampton, MA and he definitely deserved the standing ovation he received.

 
+1, have seen him here in Utah a while ago. Love his guitar work and vocals and his easy smooth bluesy groove.
Chris is a fantastic songwriter. I'm surprised he has not gained more notoriety. I highly recommend listening to , "Origin of Species," "Leave The Light On," and many other of his songs! I saw him 2/14 in Northampton, MA and he definitely deserved the standing ovation he received.
 aaehr wrote:
oh no, not ANOTHER one to buy...
 
Was thinking exactly the same thing myself.
So underrated.  If you haven't heard it before Live as I'll ever be is an absolute must have album.  

Don't know about the guy lower down but I saw him in Kilburn a few years back and he was fantastic.  Hardly say he didn't embrace the crowd as he pretty much finished and walked the couple of metres to the bar to drink with those who came to the gig.  Great performance by a great performer.  Real good atmosphere and loved his little chats between songs especially the one about not naming your daughter Lola unless you expect her to end up on the pole-a. 
oh no, not ANOTHER one to buy...
Hey about Smithers....He's alright. A great Alt bluesy type in the vane of Peter Mulvey etc. These touring guys work hard driving to gigs and all. Everyone can have a bad day! I was thinking about having a show with him in Green Bay as I have some of his agency stable mates like Steve Forbert & Stacey Earle here often. Rock On.
chfLarry wrote:
I met this guy 15 years ago and he was a dik, even though I think he is a respectable musician I still cant get over that evening 15 years ago yea well,, my hangup
Wow then, this tells you something about impressions. I also met him, in my home town (Reading, PA) and he was nothing but gracious, open and friendly. He met and greeted everyone who waited around afterwards - easily an hour's worth. Signed my cassette tape.
Coppertop wrote:
What a great afternoon of music. I always rate them by the amount of work I don't get accomplished :)
Hey--I like that ratings system! And this song too.
I don't know him, but I lovr this song.
Yiketh! Me liketh! Dancin nanner worthy!
Wow. Never heard this before but am definately digging it.
Love this song
I met this guy 15 years ago and he was a dik, even though I think he is a respectable musician I still cant get over that evening 15 years ago yea well,, my hangup
What a great afternoon of music. I always rate them by the amount of work I don't get accomplished :) today.... not so much..
I love well played snare drum....
tesserakt wrote:
This is a really catchy tune - I'm bobbing in my seat!
yeah, this is great I'll have to see him.....
This has to be followed up by Bruce Cockburn's "Train in the Rain"
This is a really catchy tune - I'm bobbing in my seat!
Got to see Chris at Wolftrap in January...great show and a great story teller!
Can't stop listening to this song lately.
When's my train gonna roll in??
Mari wrote:
underneath the levee in a cat-tail thicket hidden in the shadow of a shady grove there's a thatched roof risin' from a poke fence picket white smoke billows from a kettle-black stove from Crocodile Man. this guys lyrics are amazing!
These aren't acutally Chris Smither lyrics. They're Dave Carter lyrics. Chris covered this song after Dave's untimely passing in 2002. Chris' version is fantastic, but Dave and his partner Tracy Grammer's is excellent as well. Check them out at www.daveandtracy.com. Dave Carter was one of the most brilliant musicians and lyricists of our time, and his loss was deeply felt in the folk/roots music community. He is missed.
This KICKS! I want to be at home and give this a whirl on my stereo.
cycleman wrote:
Good to see great comments on Chris Smither...I agree his live shows are super. I saw him for the first time about 5 years ago--so i like the comment about 25 years ago....anyway it was Falcon Ridge Folk Fest in Hillsdale, NY...a nice 3-day event.He was sharing the stage on a singer songwriter panel with Greg Brown, Lucy Kaplansky and a few others
I saw him at Falcon Ridge on this panel as well! I love Falcon Ridge. I would not miss it for anything. It makes my summer.
Greetings, I am (hopefully) going to hear Chris on April 28, 2006 at the unCommon Coffeehouse in Framingham, MA. (click here) Scroll down....almost all the way. Neil
haoleboy wrote:
Chris Smither is so cool. Check out his take on Dave Carter's "Crocodile Man" on this album. https://daveandtracy.globalhosting.com/lyrics.php?uid=107
"inside the house is the hall of mirrors inside the mirror is the temple of sin and inside the temple is the face of mama and mama she know just where i been yeah, mama know exactly where her bad boy been" Smither is very convincing portraying Carter's guilty conscience.
radiomao wrote:
Wow! Do I have to move back east to get to see shows like that...we never get them here...
Afraid so. I saw him in the late 80's when I lived in slightly upstate NY and none of the tour stops were west of Ohio. Seems like that's still the case. :-( Excellent tune from a true singer-songwriter. Don't know if he's kicked the bottle or not...he was pretty bad back then.
cycleman wrote:
....it was Falcon Ridge Folk Fest in Hillsdale, NY...a nice 3-day event.He was sharing the stage on a singer songwriter panel with Greg Brown, Lucy Kaplansky and a few others
Wow! Do I have to move back east to get to see shows like that...we never get them here...
Thanks, Bill! Great to hear Chris Smither again...always loved "I Feel The Same" too...in case you have that one lying around somewhere...
Happened to see him live a few months ago, had never heard of him before. Excellent to hear him here!
:sunny.gif: Gee - A real toe-tapper! New artist to me, thanks RP...
Okay, shoot me, but he sure sounds like Eddie Albert singing. Green Acres, anyone?
Wow, this sounds a lot like 'I Am The Ride' off of 'Up on the Lowdown'
It must have been because he didn't have some hitsingle(s), otherwise I don't know why he isn't a "star". But as long as he's able to make a living out of his music, it's maybe better this way
Good to see great comments on Chris Smither...I agree his live shows are super. I saw him for the first time about 5 years ago--so i like the comment about 25 years ago....anyway it was Falcon Ridge Folk Fest in Hillsdale, NY...a nice 3-day event.He was sharing the stage on a singer songwriter panel with Greg Brown, Lucy Kaplansky and a few others
Oh!!!! I saw this guy at the Folk Music Festival this summer. He has a fantastic sense of humor ... I love "Lola" off of this same album. Great choice, Bill!
One of the best live shows I've ever seen. Laurie
I have to thank Bonnie Raitt for introducing me to this man about 25 years ago. She's sung several of his songs on various albums. He's very special.
I'm still in a state of shock at the sounds you guys are playing. Awesome. Napster has never heard of this guy.
Freebish wrote:
Pretty nice. Sounds a bit like Jerry Jeff Walker. A little Jerry Jeff in the mix would be nice.
Yeah, I hear a bit, too. Also a little Tom Waits.
Chris Smither is so cool. Check out his take on Dave Carter's "Crocodile Man" on this album. https://daveandtracy.globalhosting.com/lyrics.php?uid=107
If you like this, give THORNTON CREEK a try...:) www.thorntoncreek.com :)
Pretty nice. Sounds a bit like Jerry Jeff Walker. A little Jerry Jeff in the mix would be nice.