Impeccable scholarship and lavish illustration mark this landmark study of American railroad folksong. Norm Cohen provides a sweeping discussion of the human aspects of railroad history, railroad folklore, and the evolution of the American folksong. The heart of the book is a detailed analysis of eighty-five songs, from 'John Henry' and 'The Wabash Cannonball' to 'Hell-Bound Train' and 'Casey Jones,' with their music, sources, history, variations, and discographies. A substantial new introduction updates this edition.
