Way more emotional for me than I expected. Heard this song for the first time today. While my mother came from Gympie originally, and then left from Brisbane, so wasn't on this train, otherwise this story is hers. My mother has been gone 25 years now, and while the woman singing doesn't look a lot like her, her youth - and her hair color - are the same as when my mom left Australia. Cried the whole way through and after.
My grandmother was from Perth and married a "Yankee Sailor" in 1942, and boarded a train to Sydney, eventually sailing for her new home in Seattle. She passed four years ago; man I wish she could have known about this song!
My Mother also came to the USA in 1942 from Perth! Her name was Teddy Trager and she attended the Univ of Perth. She came to Texas and then to Florida. Perhaps they knew each other! She was born in 1924.
My Grandmother married a Yankee Sailor too... she was from perth. They married in Massechuscettes Pop and Grandma settled in Perth... Both are dead now but my Grandma loved this song and we played this when she was cremated!!! Oh how i love this song....
@@FrancesKey In '77 we did a road trip from Chicago to the Keys and stopped by one of my grandma's old friends...but I don't THINK her name was Teddy. Also, my grandparents and infant mother sailed back to the states in late '44. Hm.
My mum was from Melbourne and almost rode the train, but there was a strike. She and 3 other girls took a taxi to Sydney, 800 miles, to board the Monteray in Oct of 1943.
@@jenbergeron2013 God, Jen, you've got me tearing up mate. What a beautiful story. I'm so glad that your Grandma heard this beautifully crafted jewel of a song, that was written for her and her fellow war brides. Godbless Emily Liberty
I'm an American soldier. I was just sent this video from a very special friend. I'm sorry guys, but I'm a hopeless romantic. And that's a very beautiful song.
I visited Perth / Fremantle aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in 1997. Was a wide eyed kid trying to make sense of things by traveling around the world on a grey war ship. Was blown away by Australia. Amazing place. Amazing people. Love this song.
I saw these guys play as a back up to Keith Urban. I had no idea how good they were until I saw them play live. They are earthy, real and talented. A truly amazing Australian talent that we should all be proud of.
I love how she keeps her Aussie accent when she sings. "Dorda", "Austraya.", "Sailah" Haha. That's a rare thing these days with everything being so Americanised. Just gives me even more respect for them than I already had:P The Waifs are freaking awesome!:P
This song gets me emotional every time. It captures so many emotions in one song, love, heartbreak, patriotism, anticipation, uncertainty, fear of the unknown. Love it.
I love the Waifs and this song in particular about love, loss and courage in the face of the unknown. It is especially poignant to me - while not a war bride, my now wife left the security of home and family in the UK to marry an Australian naval officer (me). Hard to keep the tears in with this one.
These girls are Brilliant and Josh is a killer guitarist. A must see LIVE Saw them in Ballina last night - What a knockout show! FIVE Stars * * * * * all the way
Oh my gosh! I've been looking for this song for about 3 years! I heard it on the radio once and i was NEVER able to get it out of my head. Thank you so much for putting it on youtube!
My favourite Waifs song and favourite Australian band; this song is so beautifully expressed without a so-called beautiful voice. I'm not sure why but I think of a cross between The Corrs and Suzanne Vega; no pretension, just heartfelt and honest, well-written music on a touching subject.
This song gets me every time. Knowing that it is based on the true story of the girls' own grandmother life makes it even more poignant. God, I love this group so much!!!!
I saw this amazing band about 2000 at Coventry supporting Billy Bragg, The girls were just encaptivating, you couldn't take your eyes off them. Loved the Australian accent ever since.
I saw them live as the pre-billing for the main show - it got me to check out them out a bit more - love their work! Sunflower Man and this one are my faves.
In a 2007 interview with Andrew Denton, Vikki Thorn explained the song: "Yeah, my my grandmother was a war bride, after the Second World War. She met Bob Cain, he was an American sailor. And they met in Perth, and after a very brief engagement, married and then he was sent away. She received a telegram at about midnight one night, saying eh pack your things, there’s a train, ah the US Navy is chartering a a train to take ah war brides to Sydney, and from Sydney you can board a ship, and we’ll take you to America to be with your husbands, and I just wonder how those women must have felt as they were journeying across their country possibly for the last time you know to go and live in this, in this new place and you know with children, and you know I was…I get a bit emotional still when I sing that song."
I saw the Waifs perform on the same bill as Bob Dylan, Cassandra Wilson, and Gerald Lebert in Jackson, Mississippi! It was amazing and I think it cost 25 bucks!
Denton's interview opened my eyes to how great these Waifs are... and this song rates with the best from the West, Kavisha, Katie Steele et al Also prompted my first youtube comment!
A beautiful story sung from the heart. Well done! i hope to see and hear more of your beautiful songs. The interview on Denton was a great insight into your lives and your musical passions. A+++++++++++++++++++++
My nana was a bridal train member 17 with 2 infants They were stripped of citizenship and came to US with no homeland had to earn their US citizenship or face deportation but children were considered US citizens because their fathers were. Parliament waited until they were all almost gone before passing dual citizenship opportunity to them.
My Mum was English and met my father when he was posted to Australia House in London during WW2. She came to Australia with dad and my eldest brother on a ship called the MV Rangitata (I think). At least she got to come here with her husband and didn't have to travel alone.
I heard this on ABC radio today and the story about the Waifs' Great Grandmother, it made me cry. So moving. I shared this with my girls, makes you wonder how their mums must've felt, losing their girls overseas.
My mother was also a 'war bride" married my Marine father at the last minute. He went AWOL to married her and was busted back down to private. My mother worked as a nursing assistant and her employer (a doctor) wrote a note that she was pregnant. That was the only way that she was able to get onto the SS Lurline to come to the US. My dad went on to fight at Guadacanal and Iwo Jima. He went stateside 3 years later. Of course, my mother was not pregnant. They didn't have my sister until they were stationed back at Camp Pendleton - 5 years later. My mother always hated being called a "war bride." She would have loved this song.
Yeah I agree about the accent. The only other current artist who proudly uses her Aussie accent is Missy Higgens and that's one of the reasons I like both of them so much. I'm addicted to the whole Aussie thing......and I am a kiwi...LOL
A telegram arrived today It is time to catch the Monterey Cause the man I wed he waits for me And a daughter that he's yet to see The U.S. navy beamed its message We'll deliver brides on a one way passage It made big news across the nation The bridal train leaves from Perth station All the girls around Australia Married to a yankee sailor Your fare is paid across the sea To the home of the brave and the land of the free From west to east the young girls came All aboard the bridal train It was a farewell crossing over land She's gone to meet her sailor man No time for sad goodbyes Well she held her mother as she cried And then waited there in the freo rain To climb aboard the bridal train Well she was holding her future in her hand Yeah the faded photo of a man Catch a sailor if you can Yeah the war bride leaves her southern land
Saw them last night in NYC. They certainly have talent to spare. Listening to their CDs first I just assumed that harmonica playing was done by a man - was so surprised after months of listening nonstop to find the harmonica is Vikki Thorn and watch her play it. She's a major talent and visibly happy with the life she has so no need for more fame!
You should be able to find it on their live best of called "A Brief History". The studio version is included as a bonus track and the song is also included as part of the live tracks. Good luck!
Proud Aussie group, love that Aussie twang. Great song, a piece of our history. Always makes me cry listening to it. My grandmother and her sister were single and of marriageble age in those times. I wonder would their lives have been any different to the misery they incountered here if they had scored themselves a "Yank"?
@48Ender48 She's over-accentuating her Australian accent in this song. She sings all their other songs with an Australian accent for the most part but never quite as strong as this. Still, it suits the song :)
Yep, the song is true, their Grandmother really did marry a "Yankee sailor" during the war. Even stranger, both of the girls ended up marrying Americans too! It must be a genetic failing in that family...
Then you should also listen to Sara Storer same great honest vocal tone with AWESOME aussie accent. Simmilar music too, just more blugrass/country as opposed to the Waifs folky/indie/country.
Way more emotional for me than I expected. Heard this song for the first time today. While my mother came from Gympie originally, and then left from Brisbane, so wasn't on this train, otherwise this story is hers. My mother has been gone 25 years now, and while the woman singing doesn't look a lot like her, her youth - and her hair color - are the same as when my mom left Australia. Cried the whole way through and after.
My grandmother was from Perth and married a "Yankee Sailor" in 1942, and boarded a train to Sydney, eventually sailing for her new home in Seattle. She passed four years ago; man I wish she could have known about this song!
My Mother also came to the USA in 1942 from Perth! Her name was Teddy Trager and she attended the Univ of Perth. She came to Texas and then to Florida. Perhaps they knew each other! She was born in 1924.
My Grandmother married a Yankee Sailor too... she was from perth. They married in Massechuscettes Pop and Grandma settled in Perth... Both are dead now but my Grandma loved this song and we played this when she was cremated!!! Oh how i love this song....
@@FrancesKey In '77 we did a road trip from Chicago to the Keys and stopped by one of my grandma's old friends...but I don't THINK her name was Teddy. Also, my grandparents and infant mother sailed back to the states in late '44. Hm.
My mum was from Melbourne and almost rode the train, but there was a strike. She and 3 other girls took a taxi to Sydney, 800 miles, to board the Monteray in Oct of 1943.
@@jenbergeron2013 God, Jen, you've got me tearing up mate. What a beautiful story. I'm so glad that your Grandma heard this beautifully crafted jewel of a song, that was written for her and her fellow war brides.
Godbless
Emily Liberty
That's one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.
I'm an American soldier. I was just sent this video from a very special friend. I'm sorry guys, but I'm a hopeless romantic. And that's a very beautiful song.
Thanx for your service m8 really appreciate those who help keep us safe U guys don't get the recognition U deserve imo.
I visited Perth / Fremantle aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in 1997. Was a wide eyed kid trying to make sense of things by traveling around the world on a grey war ship. Was blown away by Australia. Amazing place. Amazing people. Love this song.
I saw these guys play as a back up to Keith Urban. I had no idea how good they were until I saw them play live. They are earthy, real and talented. A truly amazing Australian talent that we should all be proud of.
Remember being blown away by this song when it was first released. Still am. Fantastic songs, voices and music.
WUMB just played this song and I had to find it! My husband and I both just fell in love with The Waifs!
I love how she keeps her Aussie accent when she sings. "Dorda", "Austraya.", "Sailah" Haha. That's a rare thing these days with everything being so Americanised. Just gives me even more respect for them than I already had:P The Waifs are freaking awesome!:P
Matt Hafey fucking oath mate
Freeo rain..
@@jurgentreue1200 Yeah, that got me too ....and I'm a Victorian!! Lol! 😁
@@emilygraham9968 hell, I'm from Perth!
This song gets me emotional every time. It captures so many emotions in one song, love, heartbreak, patriotism, anticipation, uncertainty, fear of the unknown. Love it.
everything all at once, all together, like you can't have all these feelings without the other
I love the Waifs and this song in particular about love, loss and courage in the face of the unknown.
It is especially poignant to me - while not a war bride, my now wife left the security of home and family in the UK to marry an Australian naval officer (me).
Hard to keep the tears in with this one.
Saw these guys up at Karanda in the rain forrest it was amazing best concert ever :)
My Great Grandmother was on that train! She was married to a U.S Submarine veteran. She was apart of the RAAF. I always loved listening to her stories
These girls are Brilliant and Josh is a killer guitarist.
A must see LIVE
Saw them in Ballina last night - What a knockout show! FIVE Stars * * * * * all the way
My mother's twin sister - my Auntie Gloria - was a war bride on the Monterey. This song means a lot to me.
One of my very favorite songs ever....
Best Aussie folk song - ever!!
Oh my gosh! I've been looking for this song for about 3 years! I heard it on the radio once and i was NEVER able to get it out of my head. Thank you so much for putting it on youtube!
My favourite Waifs song and favourite Australian band; this song is so beautifully expressed without a so-called beautiful voice. I'm not sure why but I think of a cross between The Corrs and Suzanne Vega; no pretension, just heartfelt and honest, well-written music on a touching subject.
This song gets me every time. Knowing that it is based on the true story of the girls' own grandmother life makes it even more poignant. God, I love this group so much!!!!
Just got turned on to the Waifs totally blown away josh is amazing please come to Montana
Did U know he makes all their instruments himself even the stand up bass thing
My Favourite West Australian Group singing a great song!! Saw The Waifs in London this year, GREAT!
These people are delightful. It is beautifully written and sung .Thanks so much.
I saw this amazing band about 2000 at Coventry supporting Billy Bragg, The girls were just encaptivating, you couldn't take your eyes off them. Loved the Australian accent ever since.
Such a beautiful melancholy song
I saw them live as the pre-billing for the main show - it got me to check out them out a bit more - love their work! Sunflower Man and this one are my faves.
In a 2007 interview with Andrew Denton, Vikki Thorn explained the song:
"Yeah, my my grandmother was a war bride, after the Second World War. She met Bob Cain, he was an American sailor. And they met in Perth, and after a very brief engagement, married and then he was sent away. She received a telegram at about midnight one night, saying eh pack your things, there’s a train, ah the US Navy is chartering a a train to take ah war brides to Sydney, and from Sydney you can board a ship, and we’ll take you to America to be with your husbands, and I just wonder how those women must have felt as they were journeying across their country possibly for the last time you know to go and live in this, in this new place and you know with children, and you know I was…I get a bit emotional still when I sing that song."
I saw the Waifs perform on the same bill as Bob Dylan, Cassandra Wilson, and Gerald Lebert in Jackson, Mississippi! It was amazing and I think it cost 25 bucks!
Great song....best wishes..Love your music.
I love this guitar and uke (Mandolin?)solo - just perfect!!
Love the lyrics.
I can't hear this song but tear up. Especially because I'm from Perth originally in the first place. Beautiful.
Have never seen this - it's beautiful! Thanks so much for posting it.
It's such an awesome tune, and a great performance too. I am so happy somebody has finally posted this song! Thx a lot!!!
Accent and song 10/10
me too. I saw it at a concert of theirs and then couldn't find it, then i forgot about it. and then got it stuck in my head again.
I love a song that tells a story, and what a fantastic story.
Denton's interview opened my eyes to how great these Waifs are... and this song rates with the best from the West, Kavisha, Katie Steele et al Also prompted my first youtube comment!
My counselor at sleepaway camp used to sing this to us at camp and now this song makes me cry❤
A beautiful story sung from the heart. Well done! i hope to see and hear more of your beautiful songs. The interview on Denton was a great insight into your lives and your musical passions. A+++++++++++++++++++++
Can't stop playing it
beautiful, makes me cry every time
My nana was a bridal train member 17 with 2 infants
They were stripped of citizenship and came to US with no homeland had to earn their US citizenship or face deportation but children were considered US citizens because their fathers were. Parliament waited until they were all almost gone before passing dual citizenship opportunity to them.
My Mum was English and met my father when he was posted to Australia House in London during WW2. She came to Australia with dad and my eldest brother on a ship called the MV Rangitata (I think). At least she got to come here with her husband and didn't have to travel alone.
They have just done Cambridge folk festival and were awesome! one of the best bands on this year, well impressed
I heard this on ABC radio today and the story about the Waifs' Great Grandmother, it made me cry. So moving. I shared this with my girls, makes you wonder how their mums must've felt, losing their girls overseas.
That's where I first heard this song.... and 9 years later, I decided to look it up :-) Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
I think this is a very beautiful song,it really strikes a cord wih me.
Saw them at the world financial center some time ago ....NYC...what an absolute joy
Love this one: The Waifs - Bridal Train
Top song!
Makes me bawl my eyes out everytime
My mother was also a 'war bride" married my Marine father at the last minute. He went AWOL to married her and was busted back down to private. My mother worked as a nursing assistant and her employer (a doctor) wrote a note that she was pregnant. That was the only way that she was able to get onto the SS Lurline to come to the US. My dad went on to fight at Guadacanal and Iwo Jima. He went stateside 3 years later. Of course, my mother was not pregnant. They didn't have my sister until they were stationed back at Camp Pendleton - 5 years later. My mother always hated being called a "war bride." She would have loved this song.
I love The Song "The River". This Music is so relaxing and calm. (Y)
Greetings from the Home of the Brave and the Land of the Free. Good song.
i luv dis song! man, i can`t wait to see them live in Mai, it`s like a dream comin true! =)
Yeah I agree about the accent. The only other current artist who proudly uses her Aussie accent is Missy Higgens and that's one of the reasons I like both of them so much. I'm addicted to the whole Aussie thing......and I am a kiwi...LOL
Off to their concert on the 21st ...can't wait : )
my favourite waifs song, thanks for posting, I've never seen the vid!
A telegram arrived today
It is time to catch the Monterey
Cause the man I wed he waits for me
And a daughter that he's yet to see
The U.S. navy beamed its message
We'll deliver brides on a one way passage
It made big news across the nation
The bridal train leaves from Perth station
All the girls around Australia
Married to a yankee sailor
Your fare is paid across the sea
To the home of the brave and the land of the free
From west to east the young girls came
All aboard the bridal train
It was a farewell crossing over land
She's gone to meet her sailor man
No time for sad goodbyes
Well she held her mother as she cried
And then waited there in the freo rain
To climb aboard the bridal train
Well she was holding her future in her hand
Yeah the faded photo of a man
Catch a sailor if you can
Yeah the war bride leaves her southern land
I was just thinking exactly the same thing. It makes me well-up most times I listen to it as-well and I'm not sure why!!??
The guitarist is a heart player so much emotion in his playing unreal amazing
This song was for their grandmother i heard. how lovely if it was.
This has REALLY made my day. Thank you!
Saw them last night in NYC. They certainly have talent to spare. Listening to their CDs first I just assumed that harmonica playing was done by a man - was so surprised after months of listening nonstop to find the harmonica is Vikki Thorn and watch her play it. She's a major talent and visibly happy with the life she has so no need for more fame!
Beautiful song👍
You should be able to find it on their live best of called "A Brief History". The studio version is included as a bonus track and the song is also included as part of the live tracks. Good luck!
I weep when I hear this, everytime. Thanks, Waifs.
Also,
SOUTH OF GERMANY
by Paul Kelly
for a sister song.
Proud Aussie group, love that Aussie twang. Great song, a piece of our history. Always makes me cry listening to it. My grandmother and her sister were single and of marriageble age in those times. I wonder would their lives have been any different to the misery they incountered here if they had scored themselves a "Yank"?
an unfortunate undertow - the contempt of oz men towards their women (and vice versa)
One of the best Australian songs ever written.
Great lyrics nothing like a great voice they sound better live
my nan was engaged to a Yankee sailor. he changed his mind and left her an unwed mother in the 1940s. how different her life could have been
Wonderful song!
They are so damn good. Love it
you can totally discern her accent in this song. better than in lighthouse
Please come to the port fairy folkie one year would be awesome 👌🎶
Yeahh! go W.A.
LOVE
But for this event that linked my mother and father in law, I would never have met the man I loved and married. Beautiful.
Such a neat guitar player...
For You!
Maybe folk, a little bit country? but they are pretty fuckin good..................
@48Ender48 She's over-accentuating her Australian accent in this song. She sings all their other songs with an Australian accent for the most part but never quite as strong as this. Still, it suits the song :)
great aussie band
I love this! Album recommendation please?
My fucking HSC brought me here.
Yep, the song is true, their Grandmother really did marry a "Yankee sailor" during the war. Even stranger, both of the girls ended up marrying Americans too! It must be a genetic failing in that family...
Prolly made 'em feel like a heaps of Kiwi mums at the moment whose girls are going off to live in "The Lucky Country" :-)
Nice
more for the our great aunts
they have a website if you google them for some reason it wont let me add the link here.
Not on Spotify, very disappointing
It is now.
@sweetsugarpurple Sadly, I think they did. A while back... The girls moved to the US and Josh stayed in Oz I think.
YAY, these guys are from Albany :)
Then you should also listen to Sara Storer same great honest vocal tone with AWESOME aussie accent. Simmilar music too, just more blugrass/country as opposed to the Waifs folky/indie/country.
sweet
😭🖤💝💗💌
Love Ly and she might be the right one from the beginnings just as sweet and much more Money in her pocket and Dowrey! 🙅🔥💗😊🙌🎸🎁 😊
FreeO rain, as prescribed by the FreeO doctor.
How good is that?
Ну вот тут слышно как хорошо поёт вокалистка из Австралии. У нее Получше чем у мужика походу.
Accent? What accent? I can't hear anything.