Lost loves were a popular topic.  Songs like Clementine, The Yellow Rose of Texas and Red River Valley told of loves left or lost tragically.  If you think of the words and picture in your mind.....

In a cavern (or a cave), in a canyon, excavating for a mine (diggin a hole in the side of a canyon, probably near the bottom for the best shot at the gold)  lived a miner 49er (an old codger that gave up all he had for a shot at fortune) and his daughter Clementine. (His wife either left him, refused to come or most likely died in childbirth,  leaving him bitter and cold having to fend not only for himself but for a daughter that wasn't too bright or attractive)

But as it was intended there is always a man for every woman.  Enter a lovestruck (probably not too bright) young man who thought the sun rose and sat on Clementine.  He adored her completely, even her feet,  (they were huge "wearing boxes without topses sandles were for Clementine")

Then the tragedy insues,  while walking across the bridge, most likely after Spring rains, Clementine stubs her toe trips and falls into the creek.  Now not being able to swim (no one ever taught her) and carrying a bucke of rocks Clementine sank.  Her lover standing there (he couldn't swim either) had to watch as her "ruby lips" disappeared.

Now isn't that interesting......

The plethora of songs of tragic lovers is such that it would take forever to cover them all.
 

Lets talk happier things.. Trains!!  The mention of trains and the old west brings to mind happy travelers enjoying the fun of traveling across hundreds of miles of nothingness braving the elements in coach or braving the disasters of trying to stay warm with a woodburning heater in the luxury cars. (Imagine what happened when the train took a curve a bit fast  whooo  whoooo).

The songs written to commemorate the train are wonderful  Oh Suzanna, Wabash Cannonball, Orange Blossom Special, Casey Jones.  These are the songs we think of    right.. NOT  how about The Wreck Of the Old 97.

Well they gave him his orders in Norfolk Virginia
sayin Steve you are way behind time..  (oh good here we go a set up for disaster)
This is not 38 (obviously a "good" engine) but it's Old 97 (a not so good engine??)
You must put her into Danville on time.  (or risk losing your job, home, family, etc)

He turned and he said to his black, greasy fireman (racially not politically correct  was the fireman African-American or Hispanic or maybe both??) Just shovel in a little more coal.. (even though this action violated the manufacturers warranty and far exceeded the OSHA regulations for operation of a steam powered locomotive) and when we cross the White Oak Mountain you can watch Old 97 roll.  (Steve our "hero" has plans to exceed every speed regulation there was just to put his little train loaded with urgent cargo probably steaks for the bordelo or beer for the saloon, or Asian slave workers to build more railroad)

The song goes on to tell us of the tragic crash of the Old 97 when speeding down a grade he jumped track, crashing and exploding sending clouds of superheated steam in every direction killing everyone  within 50 yards, all of the passengers, livestock and employees aboard.

In the last verse women are reminded to "never speak harsh words to your true loving husband he may leave you and never return"  Right  her husband, on a trip to the "BIG CITY" to try out his favorite house of ill repute was killed in a train crash contrived by money hungry Railroad Tycoons, and she is chided for speaking harshly to him.. Ha.
 

Of course the Cowboys, the real backbone of the west, were all so special.  Who hasn't pictured the lonely drover, on horse back in the rain watching out for the herd, sing softly to them to keep them calm,  songs like Git Along Little Dogies, Trail to Mexico, Bury Me Not on the Lone Prarie, Red River Valley.  The Cattle I'm sure were awestruck and immediately  became transcendental.  Of course the subjects meant nothing to the mentally challanged bovines.  So songs like Blood on the Saddle or  The Streets of Laredo, worked just as well.

There was Blood on the Saddle and blood on the ground (oh boy great start to a song)
and a great big puddle of blood all around.  (yep  cattle calmer allright)

The cowboy lay in it All bloody and red ( Hmmmmm I wonder whose blood)
And he won't go riding NO broncos no more (oh like Duh If you are lying on the ground in a puddle of blood with blood all around  bet you're hurt and what with the lack of HMO's in those days your chances were slim to none)

Oh pity the Cowboy, All bloody and red for his Bronco fell on him and mashed in his head.   (Like I said no HMO, No Arron Schutt or Jeffery Geiger, the cowboy's toast)
 

Click here for my Bio Page