Gandy Dancers

Musical traditions and recollections of eight retired African-American railroad track laborers whose occupational folk songs were once heard on railroads that crisscross the South.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Gandy
• Dancers
• Railroad
• Trains
• African
• American
• Music
• Chant
• folkstreams
• folkstreamer

[alstl04]

As a former gandy dancer from my teenage years in the 60's, I've been there. Unfortunately I was just a stupid kid and didn't know or appreciate the experience of the older men I worked with. But I heard the songs and lined track with men 50 years older than me. Most of the songs were not for family entertainment. One thing I knew was I needed to find easier work, that was as hard a job as I've ever had. I went from gandy dancer to boot camp and boot camp was far easier.

[alstl04]

Following up on my other comment I want to mention one man in particular. John Turner was a huge man. A spike mall has a fat end and a skinny end, the only guy I ever saw use the skinny end was John. Two men drove a spike in unison and I would hit a spike and drive it down a little ways, John would hit it and drive it 3 or 4 times as far as I could. Another guy I remember is Harvey Green. Havey was in his late 60's and had biceps that young men who go to the gym every day wish they had.

[cookietwosweet]

For anyone who is interrested theres a short scene in The Color Purple of some Gandy Dancers. I knew what they were doing, but I didn't know what they were called. Thanks for posting.

[jrastacj]

now thats hard work!



[laidback4sho72]

my dad did this back in the 70s and 80s. i once saw him lift a man off the ground by the throat with one hand. the men who did this work were as tough as the spikes they drove.

[eriegamewell]

Very interesting stuff.

[miamivicepastels83]

ah......ty for posting this

[julioinglasses]

Great stuff to watch during wait in Dr. office to check my hurting back.

Now you have to check out the U Utah Phillips soliloquy on gandy dancers and the railroad meal car...

[princefoxx]

How the Hell you gone tell me who my ancestors are!!!My Great Grandmother father is a Gandy!!!!!You can FAceBook my relatives!!!!Good Day!!!!!

[flyinfingers1]

@princefoxx Son... Gandy was a company that made some of the tools the men used to allign the tracks and replace ties it's thought these guys were called Gandy dancers for the way they used those backing breaking implements of destruction in unison and in a timely manner. Oh by the way... there was no Mr. Gandy.

[afrothuder]

My great grandpapi use to do this in Mississippi

[darkyoda]

My great grandfather was a section foreman for the L&N for some forty odd years.