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about

Traditional fiddle tune/song Alice learned from one of her fiddle mentors, Luther Davis of Galax, Va. The words came from other sources including J.P. Nestor, Norman Edmonds, and Alice Gerrard.

lyrics

Train on the island, thought I heard her squeal
Go tell my true love how happy I do feel.

Train on the island, thought I heard her blow
Go and tell my true love, sick and I can’t go.

Train on the island, boys she’s making time
Go tell my true love, coming down the line.

Steam from the whistle, smoke from the stack
Gonna catch that 5:18, never coming back.

Train on the island, lord I heard her cry
Go tell my true love so lonesome I could die.

Train on the island, moaning mighty low
Go and tell my true love as far as I can go.

credits

from Tear Down the Fences, released August 7, 2017
Alice Gerrard-fiddle, lead vocal
Kay Justice-guitar, harmony vocal
Gail Gillespe-banjo

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about

Alice Gerrard image

Alice Gerrard Durham, North Carolina

A singer and songwriter, Alice’s recordings with Hazel Dickens during the 1960s and ’70s influenced a generation of women musicians from Laurie Lewis to the Judds. Nominated for a Grammy in 2015, she was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Assoc. Hall of Fame in 2017. A documentary film about Alice, "You Gave Me a Song" premiered at the Full Frame Independent Film Festival in 2019. ... more

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