Mellencamp, John - Grandma's Theme Lyrics






Was a dark stormy night
As the train rattled on
All the passengers had gone to bed
Except a young man with a baby in his arms
Who sat there with a bowed-down head

The innocent one began crying just then
As though its poor heart would break
One angry man said, "Make that child stop its noise
For it's keeping all of us awake."

[Grandma's Theme is a part of the traditional song listed below:]

[The Baggage Coach Ahead]

On a dark and stormy night as the train rolled on
All passengers gone to bed,
Except a young man with a babe on his arm
Sat sadly with bowed down head;
Just then the babe commenced crying
As though its poor heart would break.
One angry man said, "Make that child stop its noise,
For it's keeping us all awake."

"Put it out," said another, "Don't keep it in here;
We've paid for our berth and want rest."
But never a word said the man with the child,
As he fondled it close to his breast.
"Oh where is its mother? Go take it to her,"
One lady then softly said.
"I wish I could," was the man's sad reply.
"But she's dead in the coach ahead."
As the train rolled onward, a husband set in tears,
Thinking of the happiness of just a few short years.
Baby's face brings pictures of a cherished hope now dead,
But baby's cries can't awaken her in the baggage coach ahead.
Every eye filled with tears as the story he told
Of a wife who was faithful and true;
He told how he'd saved up his earnings for years,
Just to build a home for two;
How when heaven had sent them their sweet little babe,
Their young happy lives were blest;
His heart seemed to break when he mentioned her name,
And in tears tried to tell them the rest.

Every woman arose to assist with the child;
There were mothers and wives on that train.
And soon was the little one sleeping in peace,
With no thought of sorrow or pain.
Next morn at the station he bade all goodbye,
"God bless you," he softly said,
Each one had a story to tell in their homes
Of the baggage coach ahead.





Other Lyrics by Artist

Rand Lyrics

Last Posts

Mellencamp, John Grandma's Theme Comments
  1. b.... M....

    Annie-Bear Bratayley

  2. B.... Q....

    What IS this funny, very strong accent?

    B.... Q....

    Indiana

    B.... Q....

    Central And southern Indiana has a strong central and southern Appalachian influence from eastern Kentucky, etc., and is reflected in the speech of many whom are from there. This is quite prevalent compared to the other "northern states".

  3. M.... ....

    This was the perfect lead-in to "Small Town."

  4. J.... R....

    Thats Johns hma

  5. V.... ....

    Quintessential Indiana Hoosier. I love it.

  6. S.... G....

    This is horrible!!

  7. C.... T....

    I wish I could like this 10 more times

  8. J.... T....

    The actual name of this song is "In The Baggage Coach Ahead." There are many more verses that tell a story about a young father who just lost his wife. The passengers eventually comfort him and help him with the child. ... But I love JCM's (grandma's) version, too.

    J.... T....

    I never knew this, Just searched for it. What a tearjerker of a song.

  9. A.... S....

    Copied fro Gale Davies " Grandma's Song"

  10. T.... W....

    I sing this song to my children before bedtime at least a couple nights a week.

  11. T.... ....

    'The innocent one'. I love the way she refers to the child, it's beautiful.

  12. S.... B....

    :D love it

  13. 3.... ....

    I remember being at the Little 500 Concert in 1986 at the I.U. Memorial Stadium and he brought her out to open his show and she sang this song... what great Hoosier moment that was.

  14. i.... ....

    1987年の日本公演、この曲から始まったんだよなぁ。いまはその愛知厚生年金会館も、マンションに変わり、時の流れを感じます。

  15. J.... H....

    This is my Great Grandmother, Granny Laura, she was an angel who never had a bad word to say about anyone! <3 and miss her!

    J.... H....

    My dad used to talk about a song that his dad used to sing called The Baggage Coach Ahead, but my dad couldn't sing the melody or remember the lyric to save his life, bless his heart. Consequently, I never really knew how the song went until I recently did a little research. I was delighted and surprised to learn that I had been listening to your great grandma sing the first verse for over 25 years! When I told my Dad about it and played him John's version, I darn near saw his heart leap out of his chest. Such a wonderful song, and your great grandma sang it beautifully!

  16. J.... W....

    This was his grandmother, Laura Melloncamp (1905~2003) on vocals.

  17. a.... m....

    most beautiful !