Is Mountain’s “Southbound Train” Woodstock’s Most Underrated Performance?

Two Words: Leslie West

This unbelievable show of raspy, southern vocals, beautiful rifts and wide ranges in “Southbound Train” really was something to see at the ’69 Woodstock by this truly underrated band.

Lead singer Leslie West actually confused the lyrics in this song while performing but filled in the wrong lyrics with his out-of-this-world skills on the guitar. 

This, ultimately was the perfect “bigger dream of bigger things” anthem describing a young girl aspiring to escape the cold climate of a mountain town, looking toward sunny rays and warmth in the sunshine state.

Fun Fact: Mountain was heavily inspired by the band Cream.

Mountain actually played 11 songs on their set at this Woodstock, unforgettable experience and become the underdogs of the arena quickly.

One thing is for sure, rarely do you find a voice like Leslie West in this lifetime…

+ Southbound Train Lyrics +

Well she was born in a north woods town
Twenty-one winters ago
And she grew tired of the freezing cold
And living in the blinding snow

But this girl knew she wouldn’t be there long
‘Cause she had plans and dreams
And she’d seen pictures of the sunshine state
In the pages of the magazine

So she waited them tables and she used her smile
Saving every penny she can
For a one-way Dixie bound Amtrak ticket
Headed for the promised land

Her momma and daddy begged her not to go
When the day she dreamed of came
And she waved goodbye sittin’ way up high
From the window of a southbound train

Now she’s got a fire burnin’ deep inside
Ridin’ on a southbound train
And the clickity-clack of that railroad track
Only helps to fan the flames
No more worries, no more cares
She left them up in Bangor, Maine

Now she’s startin’ a brand new life
Ridin’ on a southbound train
Whoa…

She said, ‘Hello sun, good mornin’ Daytona
You’re sure lookin’ good to me
With your ocean breeze and your tall palm trees
And your southern hospitality’
Now she’s a knockout queenie in a string bikini
She’s drivin’ all the boys insane
And this all started with a small town dream
And a ticket on a southbound train
‘Cause she had a fire burnin’ deep inside
Ridin’ on a southbound train
And the clickity-clack of that railroad track
Only helps to fan the flames
No more worries, no more cares
She left them up in Bangor, Maine
Yeah she likes the boys with the southern drawl
Soakin’ up the sunshine, havin’ a ball
She’ll be the first to tell you that she owes it all
To ridin’ on a southbound train
Whoa…oh…