Runaway Train (John Stewart & Rosanne Cash versions)

Here is John Stewart (the writer) performing "Runaway Train" followed by Roasanne Cash and her hit version of John's gem.


Title: RUNAWAY TRAIN
Songwriter: John Stewart
Lyrics: I'm worried about you
And I'm worried about me
The curves around midnight
Aren't easy to see
The flashing red warning
Unseen in the rain
This thing has turned into
A runaway train

Long distance phone calls
There's a voice on the line
Electrical miles that soften the time
And dynamite too is hooked on the wire
So are the rails of American flyers

Blind boys and gamblers
They invented the blues
We'll pay up in blood
When this marker comes due
To try and get off now
Is about as insane
As those who wave lanterns
At runaway trains
This thing has turned into
A runaway train

Oh, steel rails and heartlines
They are always in twos
I have been here before, yeah
And now it's with you

I'm worried about you
And I'm worried about me
We're lighting the fuses
And counting to three
What are the choices
For those who remain?
The sign of the cross
Or the runaway train?
This thing has turned into
A runaway train

Our love has turned into
A runaway train

The video footage is from Ocean Shores Washington in October of 2008

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Runaway
• Train
• John
• Stewart
• Rosanne
• Cash
• Jon
• Ocean
• Shores
• Washington
• Waves
• Sunset

[FolkFaves]

The Roasanne Cash cover starts @ 4:00

[fingerpik]

I remember back in the 80s sitting around a campfire in the Texas Hill Country. John played this song in a much more acoustical and gentle version. MCC and JJ walked of into the night and when they came back, they had turned it into the version you hear now. They had turned it into a "Runaway Train". John liked it so much, his version started to sound more like it does now. RC heard MCC's version and put it on the King Record album. Ther rest is history...

fingerpik (Dan the Tire Man)

[FolkFaves]

VERY COOL!

I heard RC do it first, then found John's on iTunes & loved it. It's just hands down a great song. As someone who does lots of train videos, I think that the "Runaway Train" treatment is perfect for it! (I used Dave Carter's "Little Liza Jane" - it reminds me of it!)

Last year I was set to hear Jon Stewart at the Ocean Shores Music Festival, but unfortunately, he passed on a few months before it. Country Joe was his stand in. I (& most there) would have much prefered John Stewart.

[FolkFaves]

I noticed that the credits for the song on "Punch The Big Guy" are "Chuck McDermott, John Stewart"

Did Chuck McDermott do the lyrics or the melody? Or was it a joint venture?

[missea1000]

If I'm not mistaken Roseanne Cash sings backup on the John Stewart version.

[dkstewart1]

Much prefer Roseanne Cash's solo version.

[serathan]

I have been a fan since 1977 of all his music. I did see him live once and will never forget that day I drove 3 hours to see him play for 45 minutes - i am crying as most of the favorites make me do - you know music is good when it reaches the soul - and he had that talent. My son plays guitar, self taught and is trying - its a hard business and I hope he can find a way to make a life with it. He has a good and gentle heart.

[seasideshelby1]

I MUCH prefer Jon's version.. because of his voice.. and it just a GREAT SONG, PERIOD. AND I so love hearing the artist doing his own work.. but thats just me.:) Jon was a great talent and gifted songwriter who is missed....

[biggaspirit1]

Albert Lee does this well.

RIP John.

[fingerpik]

@krabbyappleton Mary Chapin Carpenter and John Jennings

[TheMKEWERBY]

Personally, I prefer Roseanne's version. You know, I've known it for longer and just like the sound quality and timbre of the melody of her rendition more than John's.

[Hyxu]

A strong resemblance to Lindsey Buckingham's early 90's style is unmistakably felt in the beautiful coda.

No coincidence, of course.

[countrynuno]

I love both versions, Rosanne's has more pop power