“The Dummy Line (I)”

Description

Concerning possibly the worst, slowest train in history, which comes "Across the prairie on a streak of rust." Passengers who complain are instructed to get out and walk, but point out that they are not expected until the train arrives

Notes

There is a song called "Riding on the Dummy," by Sam Booth & Frederick Carnes, published in 1855. It's not this song. See Norm Cohen's _Long Steel Rail_ for a full discussion. [There is also another "Dummy Line" song; see "On the Dummy Line (II)" for discussion. - RBW]

Uncle Dave Macon's "On the Dixie Bee Line," about a Ford car, is a parody of this song. - PJS

Cross references

  • cf. "On the Dummy Line (I)" (lyrics)

References

  1. Pankake-PHCFSB, pp. 254-255, "The Rummy Dummy Line" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Cohen-LSRail, pp. 485-490, "On the Dummy Line" (the main text and tune are "The Dummy Line (II)," but there are selections from and discussion of this song)
  3. DT, DUMYLINE
  4. Roud #15359
  5. BI, DTdumyli

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1981 (cited by Cohen)
Found in: US