schlange - Posted - 04/25/2014:  15:41:05

Title page from Charles Davis Tillman's REVIVAL NO. 2 (1896)

This week's tune is our first Gospel number for the TOTW (BG) series. "Life's Railway to Heaven" (aka "Life Is Like A Mountain Railroad") was put together by Charlie D. Tillman in the late 1800's... he took a tune he wrote and combined it with verse lyrics from Mormon poetess Eliza Roxcy Snow and a chorus written by Georgia Baptist preacher M. E. Abbe to create one of the most popular Gospel tunes of all time. 

Tillman’s original tune is in 3/4 time, but the 4/4 version became popular after Patsy Cline recorded it in 1959.

Often sung in the key of G or thereabouts, you'll notice that the Grooveshark playlist has people doing it in various other keys. We'll stick with G for our lessons... because we're banjo players!

Lyrics

Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer so brave

We must make this run successful, from the cradle to the grave

Watch the curves, the fill the tunnel, never falter, never quail

Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail

Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us 'til we reach that blissful shore

Where the angels wait to join us in Thy praise forevermore

You will roll up grades of trial, you must cross the bridge of strife

See that Christ is your conductor on this lightning train of life

Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail

Keep your hand upon the throttle and your eye upon the rail

You will often find obstruction, look for storms of wind and rain

On a hill, or curve, or trestle, they will almost ditch your train

Put your trust alone in Jesus, never falter, never fail

Keep you hand upon the throttle, and you eye upon the rail

As you roll across the trestle spanning Jordan's swelling tide

You'll behold a Union depot into which your train will glide

There you'll meet the Superintendent, God the Father, God the Son

With the hearty, joyous plaudit, "Weary pilgrim, welcome home"

Learn the Tune

• Hear It: If you aren't familiar with the tune, be sure to listen to the versions I've included in the playlist to the right, and in the videos below.


• Casey Henry has posted a Murphy Method lessons for this tune--only $6 thru the end of the week.​ Get it here >


• John Boulding has posted a backup lesson for this tune, only $5. Get it here >


• Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure


• Tabs: Here's a good one from Jack Baker/Stan Slack. 

Share!

I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!

Life's Railway to Heaven Backing Track (G) 70BPM	Life's Railway to Heaven Backing Track (G) 90BPM	Life's Railway to Heaven Backing Track (G) 110BPM	Life's Railway to Heaven Backing Track (G) 130BPM
VIDEO: Steven Curtis Chapman - "Life's Railway To Heaven" Live at the Grand Ole Opry (click to view)	VIDEO: Patsy Cline - Life Is Like A Mountain Railroad.avi (click to view)	VIDEO: Life Is Like A Mountain Railway - Excerpt from the Custom Banjo Lesson from The Murphy Method (click to view)

Frisco Fred - Posted - 04/25/2014:  17:28:53

I love that song Eric... and I love this version....

..." show em' what the intro is Earl"

youtube.com/watch?v=nQ-T_tryaE0

Edited by - Frisco Fred on 04/25/2014 17:31:12

eMike - Posted - 04/25/2014:  20:48:47

On my smartphone, I just received the message "this video is not available in your country". ??? I agree that this is a superb song. I listen to Earl and Johnny Cash's rendition over and over. It's one of my favorites. Thanks for making this the TOTW.

BlueRanchRider - Posted - 04/26/2014:  06:15:58

Great song, I've loved it for years.  For those who are interested,  BanjoBenClark has this song in the videos/tab as recorded by Earl Scruggs on the Johnny Cash recording.  It has the intro and the break in TEF and PDF.

I also have Jack Hatfield's version I'll try to play and record for all to hear.

Banjophobic - Posted - 04/26/2014:  07:39:41

The video is loading now Eric..

Prof - Posted - 04/26/2014:  09:53:07

I'm appreciating this TOTW series more and more. Thanks for coordinating this, Eric -- it has introduced me to tunes I have not been familiar with, and this is a really good one.

Dan

Jack Baker - Posted - 04/26/2014:  12:13:42

Hi Eric,

I just put a version below that I did with Stan Slack years ago. Maybe you can include this for the TOTW. It's also in the Tab archives. Mick G has tabbed out an excellent version based Earl's version so maybe he'll chime in here too...Jack  p.s. Jim Pankey also has a great version that we fooled with a few years ago so?

Like A Mountain Railway

Edited by - Jack Baker on 04/26/2014 12:23:13

schlange - Posted - 04/26/2014:  13:51:17

Posted Jack's tab, and also John's backup video, to the OP.

flatthead - Posted - 04/27/2014:  15:11:56

Great song and wonderful melody.  Here is my version, both in the Key of G and one in the Key of C.

Life is Like a Mountain Railway C

Life is Like a Mountain Railway G