• NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from Blues Scene about music & art.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About J.J. Cale

January 26, 2023

Listen: Colemine Records to Posthumously Release Fred Davis LP, ‘Cleveland Blues’

January 26, 2023

Host Tim White Discusses ‘Song of the Mountains’ TV Show, PBS Program Focusing on Bluegrass Origins in Marion, Virginia

January 25, 2023

The BluesBones Premiere Video for ‘Chain Gang,’ the First Single off New Album

January 25, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
  • NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
Home»News»LANGUAGE OF THE BLUES: Riding The Blinds
News

LANGUAGE OF THE BLUES: Riding The Blinds

Debra DeviBy Debra DeviNovember 6, 2015No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email VKontakte WhatsApp
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

This is the latest installment of our weekly series The Language of the Blues, in which author and rock musician Debra Devi explores the meaning of a word or phrase found in the blues.

Grab a signed copy of Devi’s entertaining & award-winning glossary The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu (Foreword by Dr. John) at Bluescentric.com. Also available as an eBook.

Hobo riding the blinds
Hobo riding the blinds

Riding the blinds refers to the dangerous hobo practice of riding between cars on a moving freight train, so as to be out of sight of the train crew or police. On a passenger train, this spot was the walkway between the cars. It was typically covered with canvas or leather folded like an accordion’s bellows or window blinds.

On freight cars, hobos sometimes rode holding onto the ladder running up to the top of the car. That was a lot more dangerous and was also called riding the blinds, or “decking.” Hobos also rode in the spaces between the baggage or mail cars near the coal tender.

Hiding in the space under the rail cars was called “riding the rods.” Not surprisingly, thousands of people were killed or maimed as they rode the rails in search of work in the early 1900s. Many were African Americans “hoe-boys”, or itinerant farm workers, will to risk their lives to support their families back home by traveling from one regional harvest to the next.

Pick up a signed copy of The Language of the Blues today!

Songs:
“Chickasaw Train Blues”- Memphis Minnie (Lizzie Douglas)
“Walkin’ Blues”- Robert Johnson
“Cool Drink of Water Blues”- Tommy Johnson

Video:
Memphis Minnie – “Chickasaw Train Blues”

blinds HOBO The Language of the Blues train
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp
Previous ArticleC.C. Rider the Venerator: Gloria Jones & “Tainted Love”
Next Article BREAKING: Allen Toussaint, New Orleans Music Legend, Dead at 77
Debra Devi
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Debra Devi is a rock musician and the author of the award-winning blues glossary The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu (foreword by Dr. John). www.debradevi.com

Related Posts

Listen: Colemine Records to Posthumously Release Fred Davis LP, ‘Cleveland Blues’

January 26, 2023

Savoy Brown to Release ‘Blues All Around’ After the Passing of Legendary Founder

January 24, 2023

The Nighthawks Share First Single ‘Don’t Know Where She Went’ From New EP

January 20, 2023

Nick Schnebelen Releases Single ‘Hard Driving Woman’ From Upcoming Album

January 20, 2023

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Advertisment
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Videos
  • About

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.