The 3:10 to Yuma (song)
Encyclopedia
"The 3:10 to Yuma" is a folk
song written by George Duning
(music) and Ned Washington
(lyrics) and sung by Frankie Laine
as the theme song to the 1957 film 3:10 to Yuma.
The most famous version was recorded by Sandy Denny
and Johnny Silvo in 1967 but it was only loosely based on that first version sung in the film. The first line, "There is a lonely train called the 3:10 to Yuma", is the only obvious aspect that the two songs have in common.
While the song shares its title with a famous western movie, its lyrics reflect more generally on human existence as a whole, as suggested in the line "They say the life of man is made up of four seasons".
The song is built up around four basic verses. The first, coming after a brief intro on the guitar, reflects on the eponymous train, the 3:10 to Yuma
. The narrator intends to ride this train, indicating that it will be her final journey.
The next two verses feature the narrator apparently reflecting on her past life and human existence as a whole, comparing it to the progress of one year. During the third verse in particular, the narrator compares the final stage of a man's life to a winter, with death compared with "walking into the rain". This is followed by the enigmatic line "But the rains of death never fall from the cloudless skies of Yuma". The first verse is then repeated.
On the Sandy Denny version, aside from vocals, the song features a lead guitar and a double bass. The bass plays a regular rhythm of a quarter note followed by two eighth notes throughout the song. Meanwhile, the vocals and rhythm are complemented by a freely played melody on the acoustic lead guitar.
The song was initially released on the Saga Records album Sandy and Johnny
in 1967
. It was later reissued in 1970 on the Saga Records compilation It's Sandy Denny
that has been rereleased under various titles such as Where the Time Goes, Sandy Denny or The Original Sandy Denny.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
song written by George Duning
George Duning
George Duning was an American musician and film composer. He was born in Richmond, Indiana and educated in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where his mentor was Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco....
(music) and Ned Washington
Ned Washington
Ned Washington was an American lyricist.-Biography:Washington was nominated for eleven Academy Awards from 1940 to 1962...
(lyrics) and sung by Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
as the theme song to the 1957 film 3:10 to Yuma.
The most famous version was recorded by Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
and Johnny Silvo in 1967 but it was only loosely based on that first version sung in the film. The first line, "There is a lonely train called the 3:10 to Yuma", is the only obvious aspect that the two songs have in common.
While the song shares its title with a famous western movie, its lyrics reflect more generally on human existence as a whole, as suggested in the line "They say the life of man is made up of four seasons".
The song is built up around four basic verses. The first, coming after a brief intro on the guitar, reflects on the eponymous train, the 3:10 to Yuma
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
. The narrator intends to ride this train, indicating that it will be her final journey.
The next two verses feature the narrator apparently reflecting on her past life and human existence as a whole, comparing it to the progress of one year. During the third verse in particular, the narrator compares the final stage of a man's life to a winter, with death compared with "walking into the rain". This is followed by the enigmatic line "But the rains of death never fall from the cloudless skies of Yuma". The first verse is then repeated.
On the Sandy Denny version, aside from vocals, the song features a lead guitar and a double bass. The bass plays a regular rhythm of a quarter note followed by two eighth notes throughout the song. Meanwhile, the vocals and rhythm are complemented by a freely played melody on the acoustic lead guitar.
The song was initially released on the Saga Records album Sandy and Johnny
Sandy and Johnny
Sandy and Johnny is a split album featuring early recordings by Sandy Denny and Johnny Silvo, recorded for Saga Records in 1967. Despite being credited to both singers, the album consists of solo songs by each.-Background:...
in 1967
1967 in music
The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The...
. It was later reissued in 1970 on the Saga Records compilation It's Sandy Denny
It's Sandy Denny
It's Sandy Denny is a collection of songs Sandy Denny recorded for Saga Records in 1967, released in 1970.Sandy Denny contributed to two Saga albums: Alex Campbell and his Friends , that features Alex Campbell with Sandy Denny, Johnny Silvo, Paul McNeill and Cliff Aungier, recorded March 1967 and...
that has been rereleased under various titles such as Where the Time Goes, Sandy Denny or The Original Sandy Denny.
External links
- Sandy Denny songs: The 3:10 to Yuma (by Reinhard Zierke)
- http://no-more-sad-refrains.tripod.com/sandyandjohnny.html Sandy and Johnny album