[Dixielandjazz] 2:19 and 2:17

[Phil Wilking]

I don't know for sure in this case, but I grew up in a small town on the 
Southern Pacific mainline. I was born in 1940 and my parents and 
grandparents usually named to trains by time unless they were referring to a 
special one such as the "Sunset Limited."

It makes sense when you remember that much railroading in the first half of 
the 20th century was still two-way "single track," with telegraphic 
dispatch, which meant everything had to be timed exactly: getting on to a 
passing siding, departing a station, passing a milepost, etc. Our town was 
only a flag stop for the "Sunset," but the westbound whistled each night for 
the station at midnight sharp. If the town clock read something other than 
12 sharp, it was wrong.

Since the Morton tune was written in the early 1900's by someone born in the 
19th century, I would think he was referring to the time the train passed or 
left a station.

Phil Wilking - K5MZF
www.nolabanjo.com

Those who would exchange freedom for
security deserve neither freedom nor security.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Anton Crouch

I imagine that, like me, many people know the Jelly Roll Morton
recordings of "Mamie's blues". The first stanza is

Two nineteen done took my baby away (2)
Two seventeen bring her back someday

The reference is to trains and I had always thought that "two nineteen"
and "two seventeen" referred to train route numbers (1919 and 1717). I
still do but my belief was thrown into doubt when I attended the funeral
of an old friend last week.