Roll back your age to oh, about two or three, and you can sing along with
The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round
Round and round…
One that shows up a lot around here with our cable cars and streetcars is
Ding ding ding went the trolley
Clang clang clang went the bell…
“Skinhead on the MBTA” - Dropkick Murphys’ take on it
“Waiting for the Bus” - Violent Femmes, one I always think about when I ride the bus.
*
Let’s call the mayor,
Let’s complain.
It look’s like the city’s done it to us again.
Tied up in traffic - what do ya’ know?
The damn city bus moves so slow.*
Traans…Yoorope…Ex-press…
Morning Train by Sheena Easton.
(now I have to think of something else that’s going to restore what little rock’n’roll credibility that I had)
Waitin’ on the Bus by ZZ Top
Some older songs, including Petula Clark’s Don’t Sleep in the Subway.
Night Train: Amos Lee
Folsom Prison Blues: Johnny Cash
Home for a Rest: Spirit of the West
Available on Napster:
Metrobus: Great Big Sea
Departure Bay: James Keelaghan (about the BC Ferries, which function as commuter public transit)
Also, “5:15” by The Who.
They did in the best first lines thread. I know because I was about to hijack that thread to talk about that song when I saw this thread and was going to post Metro in here as well. Although I’ve only heard the Alkaline Trio’s version of it. (And I was going to hijack to say ask if I should feel guilty for that song going through my head whenever the Metro crash pops up on the news?)
ETA: although I guess I should feel guilty if I ever create a parody song about the crash from it, which is totally doable.
Ooh! I’m fer’sher going to have to look for that *Departure Bay *song when I get home. Reminds me of one I can’t believe I forgot, **Minus The Bear[/B['s Pig War; about taking a WA state ferry up to the San Juan Islands(one of my old homes, Friday Harbor that is). Named after, well, the Pig War
Definitely throw in more ferry boat songs if anyone has them.
Howzabout Spadina Bus by the Shuffle Demons? Available via Amazon
Joan Osbourne - If God Was One of Us
Bruce Springsteen - Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?
Novo Combo - City Bound (really obscure, but really good, early 80s band)
Maybe “The Passenger” by Iggy Pop… it doesn’t specifically mention public transportation, but I think it would fit in pretty well.
“Ferry Cross the Mersey” by Gerry & the Pacemakers?
Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “Taking Care of Business” is mostly about the hassles of a commute to work on the morning train (and how much easier it is to be a rock musician).
To broaden the scope a little more, thought of another one I would sing all too regularly as a kid, especially those times I had to walk to school…
Kris Kross - I Missed The Bus
“Subway” from Sesame Street was the first one to my mind.
Ahhhhhh my stop just went by!
Are You Right There Michael, about the perils of taking the train in Ireland.
Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’
“He took the midnight train going anywhere…”
And Suzy Bogguss’ Outbound Plane
A Transport Of Delight (aka the omnibus song)
The Slow Train
Both by Flanders & Swann.
I worked with the bassist (‘Lisa Cloudy’) for the Industrial band Partly Cloudy in the '80s. They had a song called Bus Ride that I liked. One of these days I’ll have to rip the vinyl so I can have the album on iTunes.
*I’ve got to get out of this room
There’s a poster on my wall
The Talking Heads
And David
Are telling me to leave
I’ll go anywhere
I think I’ll catch a bus…
<snip>
There’s a seat
Oh no. That crippled man took it
He’s got braces
He can stand
<snip>
Think I’ll get off at the Anti-Club*