Never Marry A Railroad Man

[TheOldMan]

Does anyone know the origin of the saying, "Never Marry A Railroad Man?"

I don't suppose it would go back more than 200 or so years, would it?

The first time I remember hearing the saying was in a song by a Dutch group, Shocking Blue, in early 1970.

But, was the saying used decades, or even centuries before?

Sounds to me like it could be a cliched old saying.


Have you been broken-hearted once or twice
If it's yes how did you feel at his first lies
If it's no you need this good advice


Never marry a Railroad man
He loves you every now and then
His heart is at his new train. No, no, no
Don't fall in love with a Railroad man
If you do forget him if you can
You're better off without him ah...

Have you ever been restless in your bed
And so lonely that your eyes became wet
Let me tell you then one thing mmm...

Never marry a Railroad man
He loves you every now and then
His heart is at his new train. No, no, no
Don't fall in love with a Railroad man
If you do forget him if you can
You're better off without him. No, no, no…
---

Read more at http://www.lyrics.com/never-marry-a-...bZGLlS0JYxy.99

[CSX1702]

Never heard that song.

Here's a good one with that theme.

youtube.com/watch?v=X9xVnsIzJA4

I'm on my phone so I have no idea if that link will work or not.....

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by TheOldMan

I don't suppose it would go back more than 200 or so years, would it?

Well, whether it goes back more than 200 years depends in part on how you define "railroad" and when you consider the first railroad to have operated. Perhaps you are thinking of the Diokos wagonway of the 6th century BC. (Can anyone tell I just glanced at a wiki entry?)

I strongly suspect the phrase is much less than 200 years old.

[TheOldMan]

Thanks for the posts, everbody!

Yes, I had been thinking about some ancient railroads back in the centuries BC.

But, most likely those of the last 200 years or so in the USA, or Holland, where Shocking Blue is from, would have inspired the song title.

Oh, and anyone besides me remember that really odd looking railroad in the 1976 film, THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, with
David Bowie?

Don't know if the name of the planet that one was on was ever mentioned in the film.

[TheOldMan]

Originally Posted by CSX1702

Never heard that song.

Here's a good one with that theme.

youtube.com/watch?v=X9xVnsIzJA4

I'm on my phone so I have no idea if that link will work or not.....

Typed in the link, and it did work.

Watched and listened to the video and it was a good companion piece to the song by Shocking Blue.