We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The (Greater) Croton Songbook

by The (Greater) Croton Songbook

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $4.99 USD  or more

     

1.
THE CROTON CANNONBALL words and music by Andy Karp Every weekday morning I put on my tie and suit And drive down to the station To begin my long commute Standing on the platform My briefcase in my hand Just an ordinary commuter A nine to fivin’ man Board the train Find a seat Settle down Tap your feet To the rhythm of the rails you’re riding on I ride the Croton Cannonball Rollin’ down the Hudson River line Yes, the Croton Cannonball Just a passenger train With a load to haul Not highfalutin’ or elite You get packed in Three to a seat But you’ll hardly ever stall On the Croton Cannonball From Ossining to Greystone The view is mighty fine Arriving at Grand Central It’s the end of the line Work hard at the office Eight long hours a day ‘til it’s time to punch the clock And be on my way Board the train Find a seat Settle down Tap your feet To the rhythm of the rails you’re riding on I ride the Croton Cannonball Rollin’ down the Hudson River line Yes, the Croton Cannonball Just a passenger train With a load to haul Not highfalutin’ or elite You get packed in Three to a seat But you’ll rarely ever stall On the Croton Cannonball At Spuyten Duyvil I start my revival My spirit really soars When we hit Yonkers, I go bonkers When I see those Hudson shores I ride the Croton Cannonball Rollin’ down the Hudson River line Yes, the Croton Cannonball Just a passenger train With a load to haul Not highfalutin’ or elite You get packed in Three to a seat But you’ll hardly ever stall On the Croton Cannonball That’s all, that’s all, that’s all That’s all, that’s all, that’s all That’s all, that’s all, that’s all That’s all! © Andy Karp, 2011
2.
Lyrics by Robert Landy, Music by David Rinaldi Verse 1 The train into the city, along the Hudson River Sing Sing’s razor wire, white heron on a stone. Verse 2 The train along the Hudson, the playground in the snow, the whitecaps on the water, the trees are bare and cold. Verse 3 A houseboat on the water, the coast guard cruising by, the geese fly in formation, McMansions in the sky. Bridge Ah…. Ah…. CHORUS The train speeds to the city, it runs along two rivers, Commuters in their headphones, A long, long, long way from home. About eight hours later, the shifts are finally over, The passengers load up again, The train will bring them home again, the train will bring them home again Verse 4 The naked weeping willows, on the banks of Spuyten Duyvil, apartment sales in Riverdale, an old dog in a yard. Verse 5 The ring of Yankee Stadium, the canyon of the heroes,custom injection molding, Sin City on the sly. Verse 6 The gateway to Grand Central, a hundred Harlem projects, half the car is texting, renovations everywhere.
3.
The Wild Wind is a history, in six minutes, of my home town, Croton on Hudson. 'Croton' is derived from the name of a Kitchiwank chieftain whose name means ‘Wild Wind’…which the song uses as a metaphor for constant change sweeping through a sequence of historical vignettes: from the Kitchiwank who first lived here, to the Dutch settlers, the Revolutionary War, intense labor battles surrounding the building of the Croton Dam, to John Reed, the communists up on Red Hill, the movie stars and artists who came here in the 20s…to the advent of the diesel engine and the four lane highway. Musically this song jumps from Crazy Horse-inspired rock and roll to lush orchestration, with a ragtime sequence for the 1920's narrative. The wind blows up the Hudson along the shoreline, and it really is wild.
4.
I Want To Go To the Croton Dam, lyrics and music by David Rinaldi STOP! why don’t we turn around and take the rest of the day off ‘cause i’m feeling thirsty for some adventure in my own backyard the weather’s fine and i’m taking my time i got to be who i need to be i heard a story about a a waterfall maybe i can drink it all come and see i wanna go to the croton dam where the water’s fine and there ain’t no sand i wanna go to the croton dam with you there must be a million gallons of water racing down below and there must be two trillion limestone blocks stacked up like legos the colorado river has the hoover dam and even brooklyn has a famous bridge since 1907 there was water for manhattan everybody’s drinking from a giant straw there’s always more i wanna go to the croton dam where the water’s fine and there ain’t no sand i wanna go to the croton dam with you (repeat) and on a sunny day you can watch the eagles play there goes a rainbow on the waterfall as i walk along the top looking down my heart stops just like niagara falls and the pyramids too copyright 2008 David Rinaldi and the Fireflies
5.
Snyder in the Suburbs Tim Robinson 2006 I’ve been reading Gary Snyder in the suburbs He’s just a guy who wrote some poems in the woods And there’s not much here to echo what he’s saying Yeah there’s some trees, but then this sprawling neighborhood Still I’ve seen a red-tail who hunts along the golf course Little snakes slippin’ through the perfect grass Although come winter that great bird he’s a stealing pigeons Off of the cross county parkway overpass What grace remains, child, where to start? Is there no place wild left us but the heart? No place wild… but the heart No place wild left us but the heart… The deer don’t mind the cold - they just get skinny Once the priceless garden paths are bare at last So they wander, ghosts of god’s own best intentions Into to traffic then come flying through the glass Of cars meant for driving up what mountain? I guess this Snyder guy - he didn’t need that ride No, he had boots, and soul, so he just got hiking Carrying a cleaner fire deep inside CHORUS: Garry Snyder, or whoever, that doesn’t matter The point is, all that’s real is being lost That lies beyond the grid, the frail forever Herds across the silent permafrost And I know reading poems is no good answer And I know one vote doesn’t change a goddamn thing But there’s a red-tail still hunts along the golf course And there’s still a little fury in his wings… Still a little fury in his wings

about

CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON TO HEAR ALL SONGS FOR FREE. Downloads available through donation.

THE (GREATER) CROTON SONGBOOK is an organically grown, online audio collection of songs about Croton. We believe that Croton is (and has been) a true blue creative force with a blend of awe-inspiring nature and artists who celebrate it. We may even have more musicians per capita than any other tiny village in Westchester!--we have some amateurs, some professionals and everyone in between. A perfect eco-system!

This community-based collection of songs will be available as we collect them. Nothing fancy, nothing overproduced, just songs about Croton life plain and simple. As soon as we have 10-12 songs, we hope to have a live performance, at a friendly, community-minded space in Croton, hopefully in one year’s time. So please “like” our FACEBOOK page to keep informed.

credits

released May 1, 2012

Participants: Rob MOSBERGER, Robert LANDY, David RINALDI, Andy KARP, Debbie COHEN, Tim ROBINSON and growing.

Inspiration: Croton and its environs

All photos by Fabiana Chiu/Jackson Studios/NY/Lima (unless otherwise noted)

DO YOU HAVE A SONG YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
If you would like to send us your song for consideration, you will not relinquish any rights to your songs, but we do ask that you credit the project, whenever appropriate.

If you know of someone who has a song that should be considered for inclusion, please contact us for submission instructions or check our FACEBOOK page NOTES for a submission form. www.facebook.com/pages/The-Greater-Croton-Songbook/213419542081710


FABIANA CHIU is a trained journalist, former folk arts festival producer, and 3rd generation photographer who has spent all her life producing, presenting, promoting and supporting the arts. In 2012 she will celebrate 25 years as a museum professional. She plays the drums from time to time. DAVID RINALDI is a writer, educator and musician based in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. He plays the guitar, all the time.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The (Greater) Croton Songbook Croton On Hudson, New York

The (Greater) Croton Songbook is an organically grown online audio collection of songs about Croton.

contact / help

Contact The (Greater) Croton Songbook

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like The (Greater) Croton Songbook, you may also like: