Several years back Paul declared November the Train Month over on the Blind Pig and The Acorn YouTube channel. Today’s post was written by Paul and is the first installment of this year’s Train Series.
Why not start this year’s train song series with one of the Mac Daddy train songs?
In this song, Hank tells off and says goodbye to his ex-girlfriend multiple ways over 7 verses, and it all rhymes! A clever, toe-tapping train song from one of the greatest country musicians of all time, Hank Snow.
This song was very popular, and it no doubt helped Hank financially in a big way. Homer & Jethro even had a hit with a great spoof version, my favorite verse of which is: “he ripped a stich when he hit the ditch.” 🙂 To hear that version go here.
There are also several great videos of Hank doing his song live. His fiddler (Chubby Wise) and steel player were superb and matched his guitar picking and singing perfectly. This song has the same thematic elements (you done me wrong; now I’m hopping a train) as “The Golden Rocket,” another Snow tune that we did years ago in the series.
Corie and Tipper weren’t familiar with this song, but they really like it now and thought it was a lot of fun to play.
Just like “The Golden Rocket,” the real challenge to singing “Movin’ on” is remembering all the lines in the right order! Tipper used to try to get me to sing “Golden Rocket” in some of our live shows, but I never dared, for that very reason.
We filmed “Movin’ On” two times prior to the take you see in this video, and each time, I failed to think of the final verse (even though it happens to be my favorite verse). To help me out, Tipper wrote the word “play” on a piece of notebook paper and placed it in the floor near her amp so I could see it as a cue for the subject of the last verse. That’s what we’re talking about before the kick-off (in case you were wondering).
Music fans and critics often talk about how low Johnny Cash could sing, and he certainly was a low singer, but unlike Cash, Hank Snow and Ernie Ford both sang just as low (if not lower) and maintained vibrato in their voices. Snow sang “Movin’ On” comfortably in D Major, whereas I’m singing it G Major (five frets higher) and it’s still kind of low on me in places. Yep, Hank was amazing. Anyway, we hope you enjoyed the first installment in this year’s series.
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a copy of our “Lamp Lighting Time” cd. Leave a comment on this post to be entered. *Giveaway ends November 10, 2022.
Paul
Matt has a great voice!
I really enjoy playing along with you all. I have learned alot watching you Paul. Trying to improve my harmony singing and what better teacher as your pap. Thanks .
Wooooweeeee!! That some some purdy pickin’!!! I enjoyed that so much!
Oh my goodness….I love your music! Your family is so talented!
Such good music. I think they did a great job on “Movin On”. They were pickin’ and I was grinnin’ at the quick beat and I sang right along with them. Thanks, Tipper for helping us to remember these great old songs and singers.
Great picking.
No greater music (except Jesus music that is✨☺️)….. loved your rendition of it! Sadly I’m not found if trains, bc of working in a town that had a depot on a state hwy through the town and 45min waits to 2 hr train blockages, month after month, for 15 yrs did me in…. but songs about them, sounds of them and pictures of them are still fine☺️….maybe I need to take a train ride to a Christmas destination to reset myself❤️
I really enjoy the blogs and videos telling the story of the different songs. Love seeing the videos of Pap and Paul singing together. Their voices compliment each other so well. What a blessing to be able to sing and make music with your family. Thank you for all the generous giveaways this month!
Watching that video will put a little pep in your step. I love the way your family plays together. 🙂
I’ve been a country fan since the 60’s when my classmates were listening to the Beatles, etc. I love everything about country music. The songs tell a story, you can understand the singer and the words, it’s heartfelt, and it’s moving. God bless all those talented singers! Thank you, Tipper, for sharing your family and their many talents with all of us!
I love the music of the hills!
Great song! Loved it.
Whoohoo!!! That was great y’all! Takes me back to when my family gathered evenings to play & sing. My dad could mimic a train whistle! He sounded just like Red Foley when he sang. Wish I could hug all of you. Thank you for all the joy you bring.
I really like the older songs, great singing on this one. I think Hank Snow also sang “I’ve Been Everywhere”. It’s also an up tempo song. Maybe y’all can sing it sometime??
They did a very good job on that song which I’ve haven’t heard in a very long time.
Such a classic old song. Ya’ll do a great job on this song. Thanks for the mini concert!
I had the privilege of being in the audience at the Grand Ole Opry 3 times: once at the Ryman and twice at the new Opryland Theater. I well remember seeing Hank Snow perform “Movin’ On” while I sat in the second row center. There have been many greats who played the Opry. I remember that Little Jimmy Dickens played the same night as Hank Snow. At one of the Opryland shows, Riders in the Sky made their debut at the Opry. They did 2 numbers and were leaving the stage when the crowd response caused the emcee to ask them to do another. They were a bit flustered but came up with another one and brought the house down again. People really like harmony.
I can tell that Paul really likes to perform his music and songs! He is very talented. Thank you for sharing this with us today. It’a an energetic kind of song and I needed that so I can get to “movin’ on!”
You all sound great, and I could listen to Paul sing and pick all day long. I love his voice! Thank you for sharing with us.
Paul did a wonderful job and it sounded perfect to me. He reminded me of Pap more today than ever. Enjoyed hearing all of you play. Hank Snow was one of my Dad’s favorites. Good toe tapping music!! Have a blessed Sunday everyone!!
Paul showed his mastery of the guitar on this one–as well performed as Hank himself! When I was with the US Army in Vietnam in 1967, Hank Snow was one of the performers who came to entertain our small base. He referred to his band as “the bohwies.” Hank was Canadian but he somehow acquired a southern accent and became one or our great country artists.
Since this morning’s post is about music I am going to ask the members and Tipper a question. Do you know the difference between a fiddle and a violin? The answer is a violin has strings and a fiddle has strangs. They are both the same.
Real toe-tapping stuff with some wonderful guitar licks. Just the thing to lift one’s spirits, never mind the fact that the theme of the song is leaving a girl friend.
Great music! Reminds me of roads trips with my Dad. Still listen to it…
I love how y’all play music together. That has to be so much fun!
Great job!!! Take care and God bless ❣️
I always loved Hank Snow’s music.
Thank you for getting my day off to a great start! Loved the playing and singing. New to your blog and this was a real treat. Also love Hank Snow and Johnny Cash. Good Morning from Arlington, Texas!
I’ve always liked this song – it seems too happy a sound to match the words BUT maybe he was very happy to be shed of her! Great picking and seemed perfect to me! Hey, wait a minute – this kind of music is not meant to be perfect – it was meant to be shared, tow tapping, get together and have fun so IT WAS PERFECT!
Indeed, as a Hank Snow fan, one of my very favorite tunes. The up tempo beat certainly led to a “little toe tapping” by most who were within listening distance. In high school, I was “horn swoggled” to actually sing “Big 8 Wheeler” in public for the first time! I remember well “lookin’ out over those stage lights thinkin’ what am doin’ out here”. In retrospect, it was really a great experience • although I didn’t really do it again to later years. The Canadian born singer remains one of my 50’s and 60’s favorite country music stars. I sure enjoyed Paul’s rendition; and will always have great appreciation for his acoustic “pickin” skills in his performances.
Good job. I listen to Snow a lot when I was a kid. Never missed the Opry. Either Lonzo & Oscar or Homer & Jethro changed the train in “Wreck of the Ole 97” to a bicycle.
I enjoy listening to the music on your Sunday blogs. Have a blessed day.
Paul did a really good job with this song. I like “Moving On” and I can just see Hank Snow singing it on television. Thanks Paul. Dennis Morgan
We have Lamplighting Time so we’ll pass our chance to the other fine folks here.
I recall my Dad, every once in a great while singing a line or two from the original or the parody. Had not heard, nor thought of them in years! Thanks for the memory. I recall hearing a different verse to,
Now Uncle Zero got back o lean
When he fell into the washing machine,
he’s moving on, he’s moving on!
I’ll bet there were hundreds of those ‘homemade’ verses.
Beautiful!!
great songs!
Beautiful!!!
I enjoyed the music this morning. I might be wrong but didn’t Hank Snow sing “I’ve Been Everywhere.” I was always amazed at someone talking or singing the words that fast. Back in their day the musicians had to be able to do it, nowadays with all the modern technology they can make a cat with it’s tail caught in a screen door sound like an opera singer. I was awake at 2 o’clock last night and thinking about how depressing it was to see the clock stop for an hour when I had to work the graveyard shift during the time change. Many nights on the graveyard shift I felt like I had sand in my eyes. I worked rotating shifts and would work 7 straight days and then change shifts, you could not get use to any of the shifts.
Randy, he sure did sing that song and I don’t know how in the world he did it. Sounded like an auctioneer!!
I had forgotten that song. Great for clogging many years ago.
Great pickin’ and singin’!!!
Thanks for sharing.
LOVE THE SONG!!!!!! Great job!
Your family never disappoints with their talents. It sounded great! I had a flash back in time hearing my dad play that song on the recorder player and I think it was Johnny Cash he was listening to at that time. He was a big fan of Johnny Cash, but then my dad loved all County music. I know he would have loved hearing y’all sing. Thank y’all for sharing!
Absolutely terrific!!!
Sounds perfect to me! Love all the music!
I was hoping this was the EXACT song Paul would play! When I was a little girl, I remember this song in particular got my little feet and hands tapping. I felt happy and invigorated when I’d hear this tune. In all my life, I’d have to say this is an absolute favorite of a lifetime. However, On the Road Again by The Red Headed Stranger is also excellent. Paul, Katie and Tipper shredded this little number in an excellent way old Hank would certainly be proud of. Speaking of Thankful November, I’m thankful for all the work and performing that goes into this blog!!! Thanks, Pressley and Wilson clans!!!
That sounded great!
That was truly amazing! Brought back good memories. Hank Snow was one of my dad’s favorite singers. Homer and Jethro, my, my, names I haven’t heard in years. Got to see them when I was about 10. They definitely left a lasting impression on me. I really enjoy your music. All of you are so talented. Good way to start a morning, reading good stories and listening to wonderful music.
That was truly amazing! Brought back good memories. Hank Snow was one of my dad’s favorite singers. Homer and Jethro, my, my, names I haven’t heard in years. Got to see them when I was about 10. They definitely left a lasting impression on me. I really enjoy your music. All of you are so talented. Good way to start a morning, reading good stories and listening to wonderful music.
Gail, do you remember Lonzo and Oscar along with Uncle Jody?
Oh goodness. I was about 4 when we went to one of their shows. We were sitting on a hillside and this strange looking thing in orange checkered pants and huge shoes came over to me and wanted to shake my hand. I shook hands but was scared to death. Everyone had a good laugh. They were funny.
I no longer get the RFDTV channel but there was a a Grand Old Show from 1950’s that would on Saturday night. The were often on the show, Uncle Jody would sometimes be riding or leading a mule by halter.
Randy, I remember the mule now that you mention it. We watched the show. We would all gather around my granny and papa’s tv every Saturday night. Had forgotten about that. Another good memory.
Outstanding! I love Hank Snow, but I haven’t heard his music in such a long time. Thank you!
I love Appalachian music, all of you in your family are so talented! Thank you! God bless you and yours❤❤
That was great! I love the fast beat of it and it’s movin’ on!
I’m sitting here grinning like, and happier than a possum with a belly full of fermented persimmons. That was absolutely fantastic, Paul! [And Corie & Tipper, too 😉 ]
I was a-runnin’ slow,
New time, you know,
But Paul’s great pickin’
Them mighty fast lickin’s
Got me movin’ on
I’m a-movin’ on
My hands got to clappin’
And feets got to tappin’
I’m a-movin’ on.
YES !! IT WAS PERFECT
Jim, your song writing skills put a smile on my face! My brain does not like the time change!
Fantastic pickin’, Paul, as always! Forgot all about this one and so good to hear it again.
It sure has the rhythm of the song and words to make me smile!
Your rendition of “Movin On” sounded very good. That really is a tough piece to do but you did it well.
I’ve always likes that old Hank Snow tune. Y’all played and sung it very well.
Good stuff here!
I always enjoy the songs performed by you and your family. Paul sounds just like Pap.
Now I have to start listening to Hank Snow!
Thanks and Peace,
I always enjoy the Sunday morning music on your blog.