Freight Train

[Triple-o]

I was reading about the Elizabeth Cotten’s song Freight Train.She stated that she wrote it, between  1906- 1912.  During the 1950’s two guys claimed the song as theirs and copyrighted it and made a small fortune. Their names still appears on some sheet music with hers, even though she did eventually get the copyright.  Since she  didn’t publish the song when she wrote it, I am assuming her copyright was for 95 years from a publishing date between 1924 and 1987 or 70 years from her death in 1987. Kinda confusing.

Since so many teachers say, it should be the first fingerstyle song you should learn, I was curious why Steve didn’t use it  in session 10,  now I think I understand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 7, 2019 by Triple-o

[Odie]

Thanks for the background info. Yea, I've done ''some'' of it fingerstyle but not much a fingers guy, like the flatpack so just learned another tune ''Carter Style'' and fixing to do Freight Train ''Carter Style'' soon. Only do limited fingers stuff. Just me. Correct me if I'm wrong, without looking on You Tube, Didn't Eliz Cotten play left handed but turned guitar upside down for a right handed player ? ? I think. 

[Odie]

And I don't think she played Freight Train in Standard Tuning either ….. ?

[John Wells]

Chet Atkins version is probably the best version, but unfortunately it's not available on YouTube. One of the best guitarists is that bloke from Australia, Tommy Emanuel. And his version is. Lotsa luck.

Here's the original from Libby Cotton:

 

Edited April 14, 2019 by John Wells

[guitarben]

Here's a video I found of Chet Atkins playing it (this video cannot be embedded):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtMpDvOVpVE

This got me reading about Elizabeth Cotten, it is a very interesting story. She wrote the song in her teens (some sources say she was 11), gave up guitar for 25 years and was discovered while working as a nanny for the Seeger family. She toured and released records well into her 80s and won a Grammy at 91.

The 1956 version is credited as one of the main influences on the rise of skiffle in the UK and was covered by The Quarrymen, although no recording exist.

If that's not enough, she toured with  Mississippi John Hurt, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters.

[matonanjin]

@Triple-o, @Odie, @John Wells & @guitarben all of you. Thank you for the education on this.  Very interesting.