Today’s post was written by Paul.
I had never sung this train song before, but I’m glad that Doyle suggested it! “Take the Night Train to Memphis” is a really fun song to sing and play. I love Doyle’s picking on this tune, and that old Martin sounds really good!
The text that I placed on the screen says that Roy Clark played the guitar at Carnegie Hall. I think I may have gotten my NY venues mixed up. Now that I think about it, I think Doyle told me that Roy played it at Madison Square Garden. I did a quick search online, and it appears that Roy sold out both venues in 1977 (the first country act to ever do so), so there’s a good chance that he played the guitar at BOTH places!
At the end of this song, Doyle plays the signature ending that Grandpa Jones used on many songs, which is a quick switch to the high chord (in this case D major) right back to the main chord (here A major), switching back and forth about three times and ending in the main chord. Doyle extended his pinky to create a sort of harmony sound as he made the switch between chords. I thought it was a really cool gesture/allusion to Grandpa that Doyle did this. I was a little afraid that I wouldn’t make it back and forth in time, so I just stayed in A and tried to time my last strum with the ending.
When Grandpa played this ending on his banjo, he often raised one foot high in the air and tilted his weight back on one leg as he flailed away on his banjo. It was great showmanship, and it created a joyful ending to his songs in live performances. I never had the pleasure of meeting Grandpa Jones, but I can tell from Doyle’s stories, that Grandpa was just as down to earth as he could be (like Doyle himself).
Until I sang this song, I didn’t realize that both Grandpa Jones and Roy Acuff were apparently pretty high singers. They both sang this song in A, which is higher than most folks would want to sing it. Grandpa even put a little growl in his voice as he sang it. I was afraid that if I tried adding that gruffness, I would probably lose my voice before making it through the whole song. They also both went higher on the “hallelujah” notes in the chorus than I did in this version.
It seems like there are tons of songs across all genres that mention Memphis, Tennessee; maybe not as many songs as there are about trains, but a lot of songs about Memphis! I’ve never been to Memphis, but one of my nephews lived there for a couple of years while his wife went to medical school. They seemed to really like it. There must be something special about that area for it to be in so many songs. It could partly be the rich history of superb music and musicians associated with that area and that it is the location of the original Sun Records Recording Studio. I think there’s also just something musical about the sound of the word itself, perhaps especially when followed closely by the word “Tennessee.” For some reason, I was misremembering the original Memphis to have been in ancient Greece, but basic research shows that it was an ancient capital city in lower Egypt. The way we say it is a Romanized pronunciation of the word. But, I digress. 🙂
I appreciate Doyle letting me have a second try at this song. I couldn’t decide which take I liked better, so I just included them both. I liked my singing better the second time, but in the first take, I braved a couple of guitar runs that seemed to go well with Doyle’s picking. Of course, Doyle’s picking was out of this world on both takes, so for me, it’s a draw. Please feel free to let us know which take you liked better in the comments. Lord willing, we’ll share another train song next Saturday!
Be sure to head on over to Doyle’s channel to subscribe. If you subscribe to his channel, you’ll be helping bring his music to more and more listeners by feeding the YouTube algorithm. 🙂
You can purchase Doyle’s book, Lights of Marfa, at doyledykes.com. It’s truly a fascinating and inspiring read. If you buy it new, it also contains a companion DVD where you can hear Doyle perform some absolutely beautiful music, with help from his family and other legendary musicians.
Thanks for watching!
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a copy of our cd Songs of Christmas which has 15 traditional Christmas songs on it. The cd is new in the wrapping, but the case has a crack in it. Leave a comment on this post to be entered. Giveaway ends November 15, 2024. You can pick up a copy of the cd here.
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Paul, that was Great !!!
Loved it so much, reminds me of my brothers picking that
song on the Picking Parlor ! Great memories !
Good commentary and good music. I should have learned to play some kind of an instrument but I never did. Another regret of shoulda, woulda, coulda.
I tried hard to pick a favorite but both were good!
Enjoyed!
So good !!! Loved both takes !!!
I really enjoyed this duet, too, Paul. I hope you and Doyle will continue to get together occasionally and do some pickin’. I’ll take care of the grinnin’.
I’ve been a subscribed fan of Doyles for some time now. I watch his Sunday String Along every Sunday as much for the homilies as for the music. God gave him talent for both.
Night Train to Memphis was published the year I was born. I’ve enjoyed it all my life.
Dootsie Rose this today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGKxtCCQFvg . Somebody else likes train songs too!
Remember Hee Haw show, Grandpa Jones, Roy Clark and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps. Enjoyed the picking and singing. Forgot I had heard that song years ago ya did a great job.
enjoyed the train song. and would love to win the cd.
I hope all the Pressley family has a great Thanksgiving.
I watch your you tube videos and I really enjoy them.
I enjoyed hearing the reminiscing about Roy Clark and Grandpa Jones. Such talented performers! They are missed.
The unabashed joy Paul displys at pickin’ and grinnin’ with Mr. Dykes is a welcome respite from daily cares. Sharing whatever talents we’ve been given is a calling in and of itself and y’all’s family certainly fulfills that responsibility in one way or another, every day. Thank you.
I’m really enjoying your train series with Doyle Dykes. I’ve listened to his Sunday String-along since it started. You guys sound GREAT together! Thanks!
Love train songs!
Great video!
Another great song…loved the singing and the playing! Have a blessed day everyone!
I enjoy listening to Christmas music throughout the year. Would love to win.
Can’t choose Paul. Both are done well. This post was really interesting and enjoyable. Thanks for a good Sunday song and conversation. Mr. Doyle has known some of the best, as he is too. God bless y’all and have a great week ahead.
Great performance!! Both were wonderful and thanks for sharing!!
Good history..I remember Roy Acuff doing this song just about e
very Sat night on the Opry. I never missed it.. late ‘40’s early ‘50’s. I remember Ray Price and the Drifting Cowboys doing a Hank song the Sat night after Hank died. Best I remember they did “I Saw the Light”
“misremembering” struck me as funny. Good music. Thank You
I love Christmas music! I Hope I win this CD!
Joanna
Both sound great. I love your musical family!
Lots of God given talent in both of y’all.
Great great song
Would love to have your Christmas CD
I enjoyed both – my old ears couldn’t hear any difference. The stories you tell of the background to songs and singers make a difference though.
Enjoyed – I love to hear a train whistle!
Don’t think I could choose. Both versions sounded great to me!
I sure enjoyed Paul’s video! Training songs are always one of my favorites, but our Christmas songs might rank above those!
I dare say 99.9% of your viewers wouldn’t have even noticed your mistake until you point it out. The do over did nothing to correct that. Remember the adage about mountains and molehills? Well, you’re not just making a mountain out of a molehill, you’re making the molehill first. Don’t punish yourself when you’ve done no harm to others!
Wonderful! Thanks for the music.
I’m really enjoying you and Doyle playing together.
Would love the CD.
Thanks for all you do!
That was great Paul!! My goodness, Doyle can really pick that guitar. So much talent and my toe was tapping and my hands were clapping along with the music.
I enjoyed this, I was never a fan of Roy Clark, nothing wrong with him but I didn’t care for his style of picking. I had a lot rather listen to someone play like Pap and Paul when they add those little extra “runs”. I don’t know the musical term for them. My father in law was a guitar picker and he would do this when he played, now we have a man at church that does this when he plays and sings. He tells me my father in law (Curtis ) influenced him.
Paul, I have never been to Memphis either. One of the highlights of mine and my wife’s life was a trip to the Bird Dog Museum and the Ames Plantation at Grand Junction, Tenn. for me and then going by Loretta Lynn’s ranch for her before coming back through Nashville and going to Chattanooga to visit my Aunt and Uncle. Like most everyone they both loved my wife. Grand Junction is not very far from Memphis.
I never cared too much for Roy Clark either. He was a good guitar picker but it seemed his goal was to make sure everybody knew it.
I never liked Heehaw either. Just like the cartoons and newspapers mischaracterized us Southern Appalachain folks and country folks in general, here comes Nashville doing the same thing.
We would love a cd of the Christmas song! Enjoyed last night music too!
Your enthusiasm and genuine love of music & it’s history is what makes your videos. So glad you got to play with Doyle ,a treat for us all !
That was great! Thank you for sharing!
Wonderful music. Thank you!
Great music!!
As a musician. I appreciate the natural ability one is given from God to be able to play so effortlessly and beautifully. I’ve already tapped I to Doyle’s YouTube channel and am really enjoying his music.
I don’t think there are very many of us that hear the name Grandpa Jones that don’t say to ourselves,”Hey Grandpa, What’s for dinner?”…..Memphis is the one place I have been to a few times and never felt safe…..but as always, thanks for sharing!!
They both sound wonderful and the picking is great! Maybe you felt more comfortable the second time around. I love the back story. Hee Haw was a big tv night in our home growing up. Thank you for sharing! God bless all y’all
Loved the video. My family was a big fan of HeeHaw and in my personal opinion Roy Clark was the best at everything he played. I thought you and Doyle sang that song beautifully both times!
Another great Memphis song is Buddy Miller’s “That’s How I Got To Memphis.” Thanks for reminding me of it. I’d love to win your Christmas cd.
loving these old trinsongs and the wealth of information you share in your posts (in my head I can hear my daddy singing along with you on every song)…I cant believe how fast we have been speeding down the tracks this entire year and are now almost to Christmas–you will soon have been retired a year
Just a wonderful, wonderful performance. Thanks for sharing these songs with us. Doyle’s guitar picking is amazing.
Paul, I loved them both!
I’ll be longing to see you. Oh wow! You are the called. I love it.