The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Billy Bragg and Joe Henry cover Johnny Cash song 'The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore' for new album - video premiere
Bragg and friend Joe Henry embarked on a 2,728 mile train journey to record the track
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Billy Bragg has never made a secret of his obsession with the history, music and myth behind the Americas.
This has taken shape in the form of an upcoming album Shine A Light focusing on the part the American railroad played in all this, collaborating with his friend, the US singer songwriter Joe Henry.
Bragg and Henry embarked on a 2,728 mile train journey where they recorded music by the likes of Hank Williams and Glen Campbell.
We’re premiering their cover of Johnny Cash's version of ‘The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore’ - penned by Jean Ritchie - take a look and let us know what you think:
Bragg says of the album: "Railroad songs provided the bedrock of American popular music, from Jimmie Rodgers, the Singing Brakeman, to Lead Belly, whose repertoire provided several of the songs for this project.
"Growing up in the UK, I’d always been aware of this tradition but when I traveled to the US, I was surprised to find how few people look to the railroad as a means of transport.
"With this project, we wanted to explore the transformative power that the coming of the railroad had on the lives of ordinary people by taking these songs back to the places that inspired their creation.
"Travelling on the train and recording the songs as we went allowed us to both visit places that were important 125 years ago when the lines were laid, but to also explore the viability of the railroad as a means of transport in the 21st century."
Shine A Light - Field Recordings From the Great American Railroad is out via Cooking Vinyl on 23 September - pre-order here
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments