Boxcar Bertha - Spent Most My Life On The Rails

 Boxcar Bertha's latest is an easy listening ballad, and while she usually records just herself and her guitar, this recording has a gentle accompaniment as well as another voice joining her in the chorus sections. This other voice is an old acquaintance of Bertha's that is visiting her, a fellow rail traveler that's still on the rails. Here's some comments from Bertha herself:

Got an old friend visiting, and she volunteered to join me in the recording of my new song. We used to sing a lot when we'd meet up on the road once in a while, and we always blended together well. She's a natural musician, got a sweet voice, doesn't play any instruments besides her voice. She's getting long in the tooth herself and I'm trying to convince her to hang up the bindle and retire before she gets hurt or worse. Rail riding isn't for old timers, way too dangerous. Gotta still be agile enough to do some jumpin' and movin'. Be good if she retired to this apartment complex I'm in. Be good to have one of the old crowd around. But she's really dyed in the wool about it. Don't think she'll do it. 

Now as for sitting on top of a covered gondola, that's a risky behavior. Gotta do it right. I only rode the freights going through mountains and such, anywhere the train doesn't go like crazy, like the mountains and any sections of track that have speed limits because the tracks are crummy.  You don't want to plop your ass down on top of a car that's gonna get up to 60 mph or faster. Way too dangerous. And it's best to do it on a cooler day, can get plenty hot on top of metal cars. And I always found a piece of wood like an old board to put between my ass and the car. But I'm telling you, get on top of a long string of cars on a nice day with the wind in your face, nothing like it! 

Bertha's singing partner preferred if her name wasn't mentioned, and we have honored that request. Rail riders are notorious about maintaining their anonymity. What they do is illegal, and they can get hit with some heavy penalties and jail time if caught.

My younger days I used to like
Get on top a covered gondola
Hitch my leg through a ladder step
Wasn't much that I were fonder

On a beautiful day with sun
The train always made a breeze
My mind would drift and play its games
I could ride as much as I pleased

Spent most my time on the rails
All by myself and alone
But it was good, was free and all
All my anxieties had flown

It's funny, being a rail rider
Made me feel secure, no worry
Knew what I needed to get by
Never to be in a hurry

I've talked to people that have said
Why in the world do you do it?
Tried to explain, seldom got through
Just said not all made to do it

Spent most my time on the rails
All by myself and alone
But it was good, was free and all
All my anxieties had flown

Few times I'd get me a job
To build up my funds when near broke
But after a while, my skin would crawl
Felt like I was going to choke

So I'd get my gear all ready
Tell my boss I'm on my way
Always left on the best of terms
Never know, might be back someday

Spent most my time on the rails
All by myself and alone
But it was good, was free and all
All my anxieties had flown

Never thought I'd see the day
I'd end up livin' this way
In a small place in a small town
But it's here I'm gonna stay

Too old to ride the rails no more
One of the few that lived this long
Many got sick, or otherwise died
I'm lucky, I was healthy and strong

I've got enough to get by
All I ever really wanted
Freedom's not what it used to be
That doesn't make me feel daunted

Spent most my life on the rails
All by myself and got along
But I'm here now, still by myself
My mem'ries help sing my last song...