Sunday, February 18, 2007

the fhwa and transportation songs

andrew has pointed me in the direction of the fhwa's list of transportation songs. To be fair, the federal highway administration's list is called 'some road songs' but it is non multi-modal, incomplete, and lacks any sort of analysis of the songs presented. They should be given credit for selecting such classics as AC/DC 'Highway to Hell' and Kenny Loggins 'Danger Zone'. Much more questionable is the reference to Limp Bizkit's 'My Way or the Highway.'

we here at port halifax are going to share and analyze transportation songs that cover any mode of transportation, that describe transportation infrastructure, and especially songs that deal with issues in transportation planning.

but for the folks at the fhwa, here's a shout out to good old highway transportation with the song South Bound 95 (plus introduction) off of the Avail album Live at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. The song delves into the existential dilemma that is being a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia

"all right we're avail from richmond, virginia and this song was requested by some people from richmond, virginia so this is going to be our first song:

boredom in this mobile home in nowhere USA
somehow gotta make it home to Richmond V. A.
when I'm there I want to go
but when I'm gone I don't
i'll make it anywhere but here
but here is where I got to be
i'll make it anywhere but here
gotta make it to dixie

2 comments:

Peter Laub said...

I feel honored as the first to post a comment on this blog.
At this point, all I want to add is:
-"Thunder Road" (with glockenspeil!)
-"Downbon Train"
-"State Trooper"

you could probably make an entire album of Bruce Springstreen transportation songs. a great idea!

I also would like to know when Port Halifax will be examining the light rail proposals in downtown Columbus.

Andrew said...

marc i would like to point out that I-95 took out the vibrant african american community of Jackson Ward in Richmond. can we have a song about that?