# Help me find this song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-song/539660 "2010-05-16T17:47:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-song/539660/1 "2010-05-16T17:47:06Z")
One time, and one time only, I heard on E Street Radio (the Sirius/XM Bruce Springsteen channel) a haunting song. Due to whatever circumstance at the time (driving and talking on the phone so no free hands?) I did not glance at the title of the song and so I seek your help in finding it. The song was written as a kind of a letter, from a condemned man to die that night at midnight. The point was that he had led a life of crime, been on death row for decades, and in this letter to family (Mother perhaps?) he was explaining how much he regretted his actions and not being able to see them, and how this was the best night of his life because he “would be home by morning”. The arrangement, as I recall was sparse, more like Nebraska or Ghost of Tom Joad-ish that Born to Run-ish. I don’t recall that it was a live song, although I could be wrong about that. Bruce has recorded over the years, including those by many others such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. I searched the official Springsteen web sight ([backstreets.net](http://backstreets.net) IIRC) for lyrics with the word “morning” which I certainly remember was in the song, and did not find it. Anyone recognize this song? ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-song/539660/2 "2010-05-16T18:41:45Z")
It’s not “[Dead Man Walkin’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4LuU_1T3H4),” is it? It’s not really a letter format. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-song/539660/3 "2010-05-16T19:31:34Z")
Well, when I try to watch that video I get "This video contains content from Sony Music Entertainment, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds. " I am in the US. But I looked at the lyrics and no, definitely not that one. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-song/539660/4 "2010-05-16T21:26:02Z")
_The Train Song_ includes these lyrics: Seems kind of hard to believe That I’m goin, goin home at last They say that things have changed Well I guess a lot of time has passed And just a few more miles and a little more time Before you know it I’ll be there And I’ll be waltzing arm in arm With my darling electric chair But it’s not in letter format either and there’s no mention of mother. My daughter has just about everything he’s ever recorded. I’ll ask her. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-song/539660/5 "2010-05-16T21:44:28Z")
Hmm Possible. This site: [Bruce Springsteen Lyrics](http://www.springsteenlyrics.com/lyrics/t/thetrainsong.php) says that dates to the Steel Mill Days when Bruce and I were nearly neighbors one town over. I do recall this phrase: “With my darling electric chair” from listening on Sirus, not sure if it is the same song, would have to hear it. This [Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Springsteen_and_the_E_Street_Band_Reunion_Tour) says it has been played somewhat recently, whcih means it is entirely possible the lyrics have been updated. And this one nails it: [Vini Lopez and Steel Mill Retro - The Train Song - Holland 2008 on Vimeo](http://vimeo.com/1881314) - that is defintiely the song I recall. Now to find the recording I heard 🙂