Connection I made to Steam Train. Research example, from Mike Lohre

One association I thought of when reading about Steam Train was music I know that has the theme of travel and hobos in it from the post-Depression era.  I actually love this song and it speaks to the pride we can feel when we learn and take risks on our own path.  Hobos surely did that, and I admire the people who risked much for not only personal reasons but for the families they were trying to support.  This song reminds me of those brave people, and inspires me to take risks and be original.

Enjoy the lyrics and the links if you wish to learn more about Merle Haggard.  He's a total classic.

Mike

I Take A Lot of Pride In What I Am 

by Merle Haggard (traditional country music artist)

Things I learned in hobo jungle
Were things they never taught me in a class room
Like where to find a hand out
While bummin' through Chicago in the afternoon

Hey, I'm not braggin' or complainin'
I'm just talkin' to myself man to man
This ol' mental fat I'm chewin' didn't take a lotta doin'
But I take a lot of pride in what I am

I guess I grew up a loner
I don't remember ever havin' any folks around
But I keep thumbin' through the phonebooks
And looking for my daddy's name in every town

And I meet lots of friendly people
But I'll always wind up leavin' on the lam
Hey, where I've been or where I'm goin'
Didn't take a lotta knowin'

But I take a lot of pride in what I am
I never travel in a hurry
Because I got nobody waitin' for me anywhere
Home is anywhere I'm livin'

If it's sleepin' on some vacant bench in City Square
Or if I'm workin' on some road gang
Or just livin' off the fat of our great land
I never been nobody's idol but at least I got a title

And I take a lot of pride in what I am
I never been nobody's idol
I take a lot of pride in what I am
I take a lot of pride in what I am

Here's the link to the video so you can hear the song.

https://youtu.be/u4XEhnRBnA8

Here's his Wikipedia page for basic biography and info on Merle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merle_Haggard