Railway Kids








Tune by Vonnie Clearsky (1983).
Performed by Matilda's mob

Vonnie was a railway kid, daughter of a signalman.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I think Brian mentioned that I have written two train songs for kids. One of them.. "Trains on the Brain" won an award a few years ago in a compettion. I have sungthem a lot for kids and they love them.
I can send you the music if you like? Here are the words, but I can send them to you in a better format as an attachment as well.
Let me know if you can use them? May be a bit hard to read in this comment box?
Train's On the Brain by Margaret Bradford
Intro..
"Stand Clear! Doors Closing! Next stop Parramatta!
(to the rhythm of the train)
I got trains on the brain...Trains on the brain
They're gonna drive me insane. I got trains on the brain. CHORUS

I wanna go for a ride on the train. I wanna go for a ride on the train.
Roll along the railway track to the countryside and back I want to.....

Oh We're going for a ride on the train Oh! We're going for a ride on the train
Won't you come along with me. There's so many things to see. Oh we're.....
CHORUS
Oh! We're waiting at the station for the train. Oh! We're waiting at the station for the train.
Got our tickets we're on time. Wait behind the yellow line.Oh! We're....

I want to get a window seat on the train. I want to get a window seat on the train.
Keep our head and hands inside and we'll have a safer ride. I want.....
CHORUS
Oh! It's safe and clean and cool on the train and there's lots of room to move on the train.
Far away from noisy roads where the smells get up your nose. It's safe and .....

It'll be a quicker trip on the train. In the car we stop & go & stop & go &stop & etc.......again
The traffic is so slow. We have to wait till green says GO! It'll be a.......
CHORUS
Hey! We're climbing up the hill on the train.We're climbing up the hill on the train.
We're climbing up the hill. Just like Jack and Jill. We're climbing up the hill on the train.

We're flying down the hill on the train. We're flying down the hill on the train
Trees and houses zooming past. Hey this train can goes so fast. We're flying....
CHORUS
Hey! We're going across the bridge on the train.
We're going across the bridge on the train
Underneath us lots of water. hold your sons and hold your daughters.
We're going across....
OOh! We're going through he tunnel on the train. We're going through the tunnel on the train
Who put out the light. Everythings's as black as night. OOh! we're going through the.....
Hey! Daddy! There's a freight train on the track, with eighty loaded coal trucks on its back.
Little engine must be strong to pull those heavy trucks along. Look Daddy there's a coal...

I don't want the ride to finish on the train. I don't want the ride to finish on the train.
Mummy promised us we won't have to get the bus
I don't want the ride to finish on the train.

150 Hiney-Monoosh Margaret Bradford

(I DID travel on trains a lot as a kid. These stories are from real life experiences)

As kids we travelled everywhere by bus and tram and train
Waiting at the station there in sun & wind & rain.
It seemed we'd never, ever, ever reach our destination
Incessantly I'd pester mum,"Is this next one our station?"

'Cause our family never owned a car, there never was a need.
We travelled light went anywhere. We'd go at our own speed.
For holidays we'd pack the old brown leather suitcase tight.
Then jump on to the train & try to stay awake all night.
CHORUS
Clicketty clack along the track the rattling rails would ring.
As to the ryhthm of the train this silly song we'd sing.....
Hiney-monoosh, hiney-monoosh to this insane refrain
The sound of the song as we rattled along kept us entertained.
Hiney-monoosh, hiney-monoosh, for hours on end we'd sing.
Hiney-minoosh, hiney-monoosh, the train kept answering
Hiney-monoosh..... Hiney-monoosh.... Hiney-monoosh.... Hiney-monoosh.....2x ...fade

Excitement of the speeding train, hair flying wild and free.
Soldiers packed the coridors on their way home on leave.
Big family, we'd stretch out on the seat, that was our bed.
A sleeping car'd cost too,slept on the seat instead.

Next morning when we woke up cold and hungry stiff and sore.
Mum said I spent half the night sprawled on the carriage floor.
Coal dust grit stuck in our eyes, my face all sooty grime
No air-conditioning left the windows open all the time.
CHORUS
Finally we'd pull in at the station, it was long.
Stomachs empty, sandwiches that mum had packed were gone.
Refreshment room was smelling good, with yummy things to eat.
If we're lucky get a railway pie, a special treat.