# Public Transportation Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952 "2009-06-25T16:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/1 "2009-06-25T16:42:22Z")
So our office has moved 20-some miles north, which means I now have one hell of a longer commute. In the spirit of such I figured I’d make a playlist centered around public transportation. I have a few songs to start but I need more, I’d also like to broaden the genres; right now it is mostly hiphop, but of course I always welcome more hiphop too. On top of multiple genres, feel free to be broad with the transportation to trains and planes, though try to keep it to public, not just any driving songs. Here is what I got so far… Afroman - [Back on the Bus](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RiiZ7uV2xQ) Blue Scholars - [Joe Metro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLft61SMHsE) Guru - [Transit Ride](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwdLLwXr5ZY) Kingston Trio - [MTA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VMSGrY-IlU) So what songs make your wheels go 'round? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/2 "2009-06-25T16:49:16Z")
There’s the song [City of New Orleans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_New_Orleans_(song)), popularized by Arlo Guthrie, which refers to the Amtrak train run from Chicago to New Orleans. [Lyrics.](http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/new-orleans.shtml) A personal favorite is Liz Phair’s “Stratford-on-Guy” (from the album _Exile in Guyville_); the lyrics describe her imaginings as the plane she’s on descends into Chicago. I once did find myself, like the lyrics say, listening to this song in the evening while sitting in seat 27-D, while the plane approached Chicago, our destination. > [@](#): > > I was flying into Chicago at night > Watching the lake turn the sky into blue-green smoke > The sun was setting to the left of the plane > And the cabin was filled with an unearthly glow > In 27-D, I was behind the wing > Watching landscape roll out like credits on a screen ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/3 "2009-06-25T16:50:41Z")
The only one I know of is _Another one rides the bus_ by Weird Al. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/4 "2009-06-25T16:50:44Z")
Weird Al Yankovic - Another One Rides the Bus There are tons of train songs, but not all of them are about trains as public transportation. I’d have to think for a while… ETA: Beaten to it! ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/5 "2009-06-25T16:55:35Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > There are tons of train songs, but not all of them are about trains as public transportation. I’d have to think for a while… Definitely “The Train” by the Roches, “Trains” by Ian Anderson, and “Journeyman” by Jethro Tull. ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/6 "2009-06-25T16:56:08Z")
Bus Stop by the Hollies ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/7 "2009-06-25T16:57:22Z")
“Take the ‘A’ Train,” describing a subway line in NYC and famously performed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/8 "2009-06-25T17:00:12Z")
Crazy Train - Black Sabbath. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/9 "2009-06-25T17:01:27Z")
“Folsom Prison Blues” It’s a stretch, but “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” (Hop on the bus, Gus) ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/10 "2009-06-25T17:07:12Z")
Replacements: Kiss Me On the Bus XTC: Omnibus Pearl Jam: Dirty Frank (about a tour bus driver) ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/11 "2009-06-25T17:13:37Z")
Who - Magic Bus and did we list Metro by Berlin? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/12 "2009-06-25T17:24:37Z")
[MTA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VMSGrY-IlU)-Kingston Trio ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/13 "2009-06-25T17:26:42Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > There’s the song [City of New Orleans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_New_Orleans_(song)), popularized by Arlo Guthrie, which refers to the Amtrak train run from Chicago to New Orleans. [Lyrics.](http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/new-orleans.shtml) Actually, it refers to [the Illinois Central train](http://www.american-rails.com/city-of-new-orleans.html) that ran long before Amtrak. Amtrak co-opted the name in 1981. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/14 "2009-06-25T17:41:50Z")
Wow thanks, that was quick, but keep them coming! Got _MTA_ covered already, but speaking of, why the hell can’t Charlie’s wife just put a damn nickle in the damned sandwich? That has bugged the hell out of me ever since I was about 6 years old taking road trips with my parents. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/15 "2009-06-25T17:46:51Z")
> [@tds1273](#): > > Wow thanks, that was quick, but keep them coming! > > Got _MTA_ covered already, but speaking of, why the hell can’t Charlie’s wife just put a damn nickle in the damned sandwich? That has bugged the hell out of me ever since I was about 6 years old taking road trips with my parents. Missed that in the OP but I always wondered the same thing about the nickle. Maybe she didn’t want him off the train. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/16 "2009-06-25T17:51:27Z")
“Downtown Train” by Tom Waits or Rod Stewart. And a shout-out to **monster** for mentioning “Bus Stop”, a song I love. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/17 "2009-06-25T17:52:06Z")
[“Train Song” by Tom Waits](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6uK_fpb9Rg) and [a very different cover of the same song by Holly Cole](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk6-J4ZjywM) ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/18 "2009-06-25T18:01:29Z")
The best, no question, is “Don’t Sleep on the Subway” by Peter Murphy. Honorable mention: The Cure’s “Subway Song.” ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/19 "2009-06-25T18:03:16Z")
Well, there’s “Nadine” by Chuck Berry. At least the first verse: > [@](#): > > As I got on a city bus and found a vacant seat, > I thought I saw my future bride walkin’ up the street, > I shouted to the driver “hey conductor, you must slow down. > I think I see her please let me off this bus” ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952/20 "2009-06-25T18:04:02Z")
Are planes public transportation? Jet Airliner by the Steve Miller Band; Leavin’ on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul & Mary; Jet by Paul McCartney … 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-transportation-songs/500952.md?page=2)