500 Miles

"500 Miles" (also known as "500 Miles Away from Home" or "Railroaders' Lament") is a folk song made popular in the United States and Europe during the 1960s folk revival. The simple repetitive lyrics offer a lament by a traveler who is far from home, out of money and too ashamed to return. The song is generally credited as being written by Hedy West,Blood, Peter and Annie Patterson (eds), "Rise Up Singing", Sing Out Corporation, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, 1992, p.232] Anderson, Yohann (ed), "Songs", Songs and Creations, Inc., San Anselmo, California, United States, 1983, p.29] while some sources also credit Bobby Bare, Curly Williams, and/or John Phillips as co-writers. West is said to have learned a version of the song as a child from her paternal grandmother Lillie Mulkey West. "500 Miles" is thought to be related to the older folk song, "900 Miles," which may itself have origins in a southern American fiddle tune called "Reuben's Train." [ [http://users.telenet.be/davidneale/elvis/originals/list1.html "Elvis Presley: Original Versions of Songs He Sang"] ]

"500 Miles" is West's "most anthologized song."Hunt, Ken, [http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:Nb-wwvqncu0J:findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20050803/ai_n14826261+%22new+folks%22+vangaurd+1961+%22500+miles%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us "Obituary: Hedy West"] , "The Independent", August 3, 2005] The first release of the song appears to have been on the 1961 self-titled debut by the Journeymen. It charted as a hit single by American country music singer Bobby Bare in 1963. It has also been recorded by Peter, Paul & Mary, The Kingston Trio, Sonny & Cher, The Hooters, Reba McEntire,The Spies of Life and many others. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dzfwxqygldje~T3 "Hedy West: Songs Composed by"] , "Allmusic"]

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