The Freedom Train

[Zonk]

This is one of my favourite poems, written by Langston Hughes

If you have sound you can click on this link and listen to it being recited by Paul Robeson.Enjoy!:)

http://www.angelfire.com/mp/poetry/robeson.html



I read in the papers about the Freedom Train
I heard on the radio about the Freedom Train
I seen folks talking about the Freedom Train
Lord, I've been a-waitin for the Freedom Train!
Washington, Richmond, Durham, Chatanooga, Atlanta
Way cross Georgia.
Lord, Lord, Lord
Lord, way down in Dixie the only trains I see
Got a Jim Crow coach set aside for me.
I hope their ain't no Jim Crow on the Freedom Train,
No back door entrance to the Freedom Train,
No sign FOR COLORED on the Freedom Train,
No WHITE FOLKS ONLY on the Freedom Train.


I'm gonna check up.
I'm gonna check up on this
Freedom Train.

Who is the engineer on the Freedom Train?
Can a coal-black man drive the Freedom Train?
Or am I still a porter on the Freedom Train?
Is there ballot boxes on the Freedom Train?
Do colored folks vote on the Freedom Train?
When it stops in Mississippi, will it be made plain
Everybody's got a right to board the Freedom Train?

I'm gonna check up.
I'm gonna check up on this
Freedom Train.

The Birmingham station's marked COLORED and WHITE.
The white folks go left
The colored go right.
They even got a segregated lane.
Is that the way to get aboard the Freedom Train?

I'm gonna check up.
I'm gonna check up on this
Freedom Train.

If my children ask me, Daddy, please explain
Why a Jim Crow stations for the Freedom Train?
What shall I tell my children?
You tell me, cause freedom ain't freedom when a man ain't free.

My brother named Jimmy died at Anzio
He died for real, and it wasn't no show.
Is this here freedom on the Freedom Train really freedom or a show again?

Now let the Freedom Train come zooming down the track
Gleaming in the sunlight for white and black
Not stoppin' at no stations marked COLORED nor WHITE,
Just stoppin' in the fields in the broad daylight,
Stoppin' in the country in the wide-open air
Where there never was a Jim Crow sign nowhere,
And No Lilly-White Committees, politicians of note,
Nor poll tax layer through which colored can't vote
And there won't be no kinda color lines
The Freedom Train will be yours
And mine. Then maybe from their graves in Anzio
Black men and white will say, We want it so!
Black men and white will say, Ain't it fine?
At home they got a Freedom train,
A Freedom train,
That's yours and mine!


Biography of James Langston Hughes http://www.redhotjazz.com/hughes.html

[moominmamma]

I love Paul Robesons voice:) ....got to hurry the kids up to bed so I can sort out some sound on this computer!

[Zonk]

I love Paul Robesons voice:) ....got to hurry the kids up to bed so I can sort out some sound on this computer!
Hurry up kids!!!:)

[unionpacificrailroad]

Peace,


the freedom train was regularly pulled by Souther Pacific GS4. "Daylight" the only one fo its class left. and is still used on excursion sevice and is currently in its Freedom TRain Paint Scheme. also a Reading T1 class steam locomotive also pulled the Freedom Train which 4 of are left and all are huge steamers and are planned for return to service. all the locomotives werew automatic fired. with the archemedes screw. they didnt shove coal itn them. they would rewuire 10 or more men jsut to get enough fire for the whistle!

later

the tired flower child

[moominmamma]

Sighs.....thanks Zonk :)

[Zonk]

Here's another couple of things for you Sue http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

Listen to Paul Robeson's music (http://myhero.com/audio/artist/OldManRiver_C_Hall1958.mp3) online (3,128 K)

and

http://www.worldwidewales.tv/index2.php?mid=142

and an hour long program
Classically Black: Paul Robeson

http://www.will.uiuc.edu/fm/images/audiospeakericon.gifListen to this program (http://rms01.cites.uiuc.edu/ramgen/WILL/specials/CBrobeson.rm)


Don't know whether broadband is needed or not....

[moominmamma]

Got broadband :) What a remarkable man Paul Robeson was!

Thanks Rick, you have made an old woman happy:p

[Zonk]

Got broadband :) What a remarkable man Paul Robeson was!

Thanks Rick, you have made an old woman happy:pNo probs mate, and whoo sez Norichers harnt heducated!:H

Old my arse!;)

Lets get rockin'wiv Robeson!

[moominmamma]

I is beginning to suspect that you is very educated Mr Zonk !


( you wouldn't happen to be the Rick who rants by the way?:) )

[Zonk]

I is beginning to suspect that you is very educated Mr Zonk !


( you wouldn't happen to be the Rick who rants by the way?:) )Are you talking about Ricks Rants as in 'Now or Never'....yes.

Or as in a ranting general muppet in real life....yes to that too!

Do we know each other?:eek: :cool:

[moominmamma]

Just one of those ever present Norwich coincidences I think....fairly sure we don't know each other.....I was getting a pile of paper together for the recycling box, and I started to read through my eldest sons' copy of 'Now or Never', when I got to Ricks Rants a little light bulb appeared above my head;)

It's your writing style that gives you away :)

[Zonk]

Just one of those ever present Norwich coincidences I think....fairly sure we don't know each other.....I was getting a pile of paper together for the recycling box, and I started to read through my eldest sons' copy of 'Now or Never', when I got to Ricks Rants a little light bulb appeared above my headhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif

It's your writing style that gives you away http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gifNot sure whether thats good or bad!http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif

Ha! That's what you get for rifling through your kids stuff! Revolutionary material!!!!http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

I think Sue you deserve a life time of free copies on me!!

We are in the British Library now....hysterical!! http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[moominmamma]

I think Sue you deserve a life time of free copies on me!!
Surely anarchist newspapers are always free!

We are in the British Library now....hysterical!! http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
So was Karl Marx :)

Actually you have given me an idea about Christmas presents....I'll pm you

[Zonk]

Surely anarchist newspapers are always free!


So was Karl Marx :)

Actually you have given me an idea about Christmas presents....I'll pm youIf only! We don't have any millionaires amongst us or advertisers and are totally self funding! We do sell it at the same price as the Norwich Evening News however, 37p!

Roll up roll up!

<all the hippy's start skining up>:p

Christ I should be a sales rep!!!!:H