“This Train”, a traditional song, often played by Woody Guthrie and Johnny Cash, is the Peace Song of the Day for January 3rd. You can find the lyrics and chords to this song in the Rise Up Singing songbook on page 97. This is another song which has religious words and a gospel flavor, but has spoken to people of all faiths and non-faiths over the years.

A really cool version from the Railroad Revival Tour:

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Some lyrics:

This Train

This train, is bound for glory, this train
This train, is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory, don’t ride nothin’
but the righteous and holy
This train is bound for glory, this train
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This train don’t carry no gamblers, this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers, this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers, no hot town women,
no midnight ramblers,
This train don’t carry no gamblers, this train

What is that you say? It does not say the word “peace” in it? Well, this is a song that is about peace, because it is full of spirit and empowerment. It is also mustering up a way to think about being a good person, and keeping on mission. I also think it is ripe for additional lyrics praising or blaming people of nonviolence or violence.