Alison Krauss - Steel Rails Lyrics

I remember when this song first came out. It seems like a lifetime ago now, as my children were only babies back then and they are all grown now with babies of their own. Alison has such a beautiful and distinctive voice that her talent has lasted for years in an industry that can be fickle with new artists. She is an amazing talent and I enjoy listening to her as much today, as I did when she first hit the scene so many years ago. This still remains one of my favorite songs from her.

I remember when they first started playing this on a local channel around Athens. I love it

Such a beautiful young lady and one of the sweetest voices of all times 💖

Champaign represent !!

Spot on recording of a great song _ thanks for the the share.

Steel rails, chasing sunshine round the bend
Winding through the trees, like a ribbon in the wind
I don't mind not knowing what lies down the track
Cause I'm looking out ahead, to keep my mind from turning back
It's not the first time I've found myself alone and known
If I really had you once, then I'd have you when I'm gone
Whistle blows, blowin' lonesome in my mind
Calling me along that never ending metal line
Steel rails, chasing sunshine round the bend
Winding through the trees, like a ribbon in the wind
I don't mind not knowing what lies down the track
Cause I'm looking out ahead, to keep my mind from turning back
Sun is shining, through the open boxcar door
Lying in my mind with the things I've known before
I've lost count of the hours, days, and nights
The rhythm of the rails keeps the motion in my mind
Steel rails, chasing sunshine round the bend
Winding through the trees, like a ribbon in the wind
I don't mind not knowing what lies down the track
Cause I'm looking out ahead, to keep my mind from turning back
Cause I'm looking out ahead, to keep my mind from turning back

If your not married, please let me ask why not ?

Awesome

Oh my god! So powerful but crystal clear voice. I ashamed realized it last month accidentally. I am Led Zeppelin fan but realized him singing wit Alison Krauss yrs ago. Felt bad because Alison Krauss is really really amazing singer with strong voice. Love her all! Cheers from Finland, Europe. I love u Alison!

Twenty Seven Grammy Awards to her name. That's not including the fourteen she received with Union Station. That places her far beyond any single person, living or dead, in any genre of music. Grammy's are not given for ticket sales or albums sold. They are given based solely on the quality of the product. She is by far, the best over all of anyone in music. Only Quincy Jones, as a producer, comes close on the list. Anyone and everyone lines up to record with this lady. The only pathetic thing about this exceptional talent is she is not in the Country Music Hall of Fame. But, she is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. She will definitely have her invite to the Hall of Fame, no doubt. For the record, my favorite recording of hers is "Steel Rails". Her voice vastly outshines her musicianship on the fiddle. But, she is definitely awesome.

Doobie brothers

Goosebumps and tears... whatever happened to music like this?

This was popular about 1992, I remember it.

I have loved her voice so much I named my daughter after her, thank you Alison for helping me get through an extremely hard time in my life, with your voice, it was all I had, other than my faith in God.

this is how painting graffiti on trains makes you feel!

ЛЮБЛЮ ТЕБЯ ОЧЕНЬ!!!

Я ЛЮБЛЮ ЭЛИСОН КРАУС ОЧЕНЬ ЛЮБЛЮ

baby alison <3

nail hater

possetion of creasote

замечательный голос. чарующий)

she is an angel such a powerful. song

good song

Really liked this era of her singing

"Seemingly" from her earlier bluegrass years? Yes, I believe she was 17 when she recorded this. Written by Louisa Branscomb.

awesome

Alison, in love with you immensely! And nothing I can do - I feel too overwhelmed !!! Sorry, but it's true.

+Nord Siberia Take a number, amigo.

May be, may be...

Taking back in time. Just always loved this arrangement. Doesn't get any better.

It was songs like this one that just melted me for Alison and her musical ability. Songs like this are like a slice of heaven. 

this was popular in 1991 when I moved from NYC to Atlanta. The lyrics motivated me to keep going and no to turn tail and run...

Like Stevie Nicks, the quaver in Alison's voice always turned me on. Most artists take voice lessons to remove their quavers. Oh foolish ones. the Radman 

Paulette Carlson of Highway 101 has that quality. Listen to 'Just Say Yes' by them.

Reminds me of Jennie Kendall voice very beautiful

Steel Rails got me very close to Bluegrass Music where I still am today.  Caught Alison and Union Station on live on a cruise ship in 1996. So very good.

Thanks for posting this Vic. Great song, great voice and a good reminder to "keep looking out ahead to keep my mind from looking back."
Harold Hansen (Heelingfree)

I had posted that I saw Suzanne Cox and now I read your post! Nice!

Alison& US have done so much great music but this is absolutely my favorite song of all!
It appears that Suzanne Cox (from the Cox Family) sang on this video too. She's standing on the right side of alison when they are all singing in the field, the gal with the dark hair.
I love this video too, thank you!

Goose bumps abound hearing this great BG tune by one'a tha greatest.
33 yrs. railroading....I can really relate.

Inspired me back in the day.. Thought she sounded like an angel then, know she sounds like one now.

Interesting to see the Cox Family (two members of it, anyway) in her band.

This works at both this faster tempo as well as slower...I wonder if they decide on the spur of the moment, since both work.

Sweet smile.

In my life time there have been very few who could but her eyes mesmerize me.

Does music get any better than this? I don't think so.

Ah yes, I feel in love when I saw Allison in this video. She had the voice of an angel and we were about the same age....thank you Allison for all the beautiful music through the years!!

i love this song:)

CAN YOU HEAR ME SID?

can you hear me sid?

can you hear me sid?

good song my father want me to sing it and i will

@GoodPuppyDog i wondered what happened to adam. i know he played with the dixie chicks.he was the bomb. he used to speak to the audience when allison was young. i miss his great mandolin . it took me awhile to accept jerry douglas. steffey--the best mandolin i have ever heard. what a loss for akus and union station.

@RBCHB can you send me the recipe for homemade concord grape wine?

@oklbb101 Actually, this is on her 1990 album, I've Got That Old Feeling. She was 19 when the album came out.

This has become my favorite bluegrass song. When I first heard it, I also played it several times in a row, its just exceptional! The harmonies and musical arrangement are perfect , and Krauss's voice... well, this has to be on the playlist in heaven!

Thanks, I have now played this 16 times in a row. I remember coming home from High School and flipping on CMT trying to catch this video.

she was like, 18, here...maybe 17? 1989

what year?

Looked for this and today hit pay dirt. Thank you.

where is adam steffey? what a talented mandolin player--and a great loss to akus.

How can anyone dislike this awesome song? People don't know real music. Its better than the garbage now days.

looking back you never get to the morrow Father is on that straight road ahead blessing****s

@VicDeHaven yep, so many times I've thought that youtube needs a loop button.

I think you may have the songwriter wrong on this one. Sidney Cox from Cotton Valley, Louisiana wrote it. He is a friend of mine and my late husband's. Also when Sidney wrote it, James did the Dobro in the demo tape. Sidney did sell it to Allison. Sidney and his family used to tour with Allison, back in the day. The were just known as the Cox Family. You may want to check in to this.

First time I heard this was in 1984 when I first got CMT. It was great then, and its just as good today. What a voice.

Ok so I see a lot of questions in comments. Allison recorded this is 1992 and she was 18 I believe. This song is still known as the song that brought her to a new level. Steel rails was written by Louisa Branscomb and has been recorded in multiple countries. If ya have anymore questions please ask! Oh and Adam Steffey played the mandolin for this song until he left the band. Oh lol this song is definitely bluegrass by all accounts not country. It was a newer sound for the time but it came to be

looked for this for years. Could hear her in my mind singing it.

@WildBillTurkey @WildBillTurkey Thank you Wild Bill. I haven't been in here in quite a while and I'm amazed at the response this video has received.
I hope they never take it down for some dumb copyright infraction.
This video is a rare item these days.
If I can ever find the video (in my archives) that I originally uploaded, I'll see if I can upload it again to improve the resolution now that YouTube is hosting better quality videos here. Vic DeHaven

She Never Stopped Playing Bluegrass

One of her best songs is THAT MAKE ONE OF US.

Whoa 80s, classic song by a great band. LoL @ her hair and canadian tuxedo....

Her voice was unique even before she and Union Station hit it big.....she's just a dream come true.....and my all time favorite female bluegrass performer.

This was the first video I ever saw of Alison Kruass. I have been a fan since 1986 when I saw it.

Not to argue, kkllkklklk...but Dan Tyminski plays mandolin for AKUS sometimes, and that is one bad dude....Dan is an absolutely incredible musician. And yes, she is a porcelein doll, and yes, the sweetest voice in music.....

I would say more "newgrass" than bluegrass, because it is a string band song, no percussion...this was the first Alison Krauss song I heard so many years ago, and I realized after the first hearing of it that the nature of bluegrass/country had changed for good and I was seeing one of the great legendary performers. I have been a fan since.

Oh the BEAUTY of "The Cox Family", Evelyn if you see this post, I LOVE and miss you!!!!

-Royce : )

weeping....

I love Allison Krauss. She is one of my biggest influences ever. I admire her and her music so much. :-)

It does look like Sidney Cox in the video, as well as his sis Suzanne singing harmony, but Jerry Douglas actually played on the recording.

What a wonderful song. Glad I discovered AK years ago before she made a record with Robert Plant. :^ \

From when TNN was worth a darn.

What a voice and performer. Common girl but sexy as hell. She and Union Station brought Bluegrass back, But Damn, Whiskey Lulabye. What a classic. Bill Anderson wrote it and Rick Scroder ( I know I didn t spell that right ) directed it. Great piece of work for all involved.

There probably is a better term, but yes, I agree.

Love the classic feel to her/their older material. Granted, it all sounds great but music like this really brings your imagination into play. You can almost imagine yourself on the train looking out at the landscape and daydreaming.

Howdy! I'll tell you what, blonde or what not .. Alison is the best! Bluegrass or newgrass, it don't make no difference to me. All the best to all her fans, - Judd Jugmonger

I heard that on WSM! Wasn't she awesome!!! You were one lucky person to have been there live!

what a badass for lack of a better term : )

She was so cute!

shes great GODBLESS*****************S

shankydevil54, Just play it over and over as I do :-)))

I'm very glad that everyone is enjoying this post so much.
It has been quite a while since I checked my YouTube page and I am realy impressed by the number of views that it has received.

Vic DeHaven Yeah, this IS STILL my favorite AK video.

Man, what happened here? This is what I think about when I think of bluegrass...I feel like she's made the proverbial shift into prima donna bluegrass/country...love this song!

she looks diffrent here she has perm lol

great song!

I was in college and came home, heard this on TNN and freaked out. I ran in the livingroom and LOVED her from the first time I heard this in fall 1990. I told my mom I wanted that "cassette" for christmas. I love all the songs on that first record she did.

seems like I've met my match as an all time Alison Krauss fan ! I fell in love with her voice age 4 when I first heard Too late to cry ...
I've checked out a few of the recently posted lives of her present tour and was pleased to see Stuart Duncan was part of the trip, as you say, bluegrass is really one big sharing family !
There's a video on here of her at the american music shop, her & Stuart Duncan play twin fiddle on New Fool I think, or some other song from Every Time you say Goodbye ...

Thanks for the info ! I had sort of guessed that she'd made the clip as a sort of after thought with her current band after the release of the album.
I had of course recognised Jerry Douglas on dobro, he's one of the main features of this album which I love. I also adore the excellent choice of songs and beautifully emotional vocals from Alison when she still had that subtle vibrato in her voice that went straight to the heart ... No matter how many times I listen to it, I never get bored !

It's rare for me to visit my own You Tube page any more so I was quite surprised, and pleased, to see that I have made over 26,000 people happy with this clip. It's one of my most treasured.
Anything that AK does is fine with me but this clip was my first intro to her and every time I see it I go back to being a love-struck teenager. AND the music is great too. I loved her voice best in ths video.

I certainly hope you all enjoy this video too.

Vic DeHaven

Stuart Duncan on mandolin, really ?! wow, I didn't know he played so well ! I've been listening to this song and album since it came out, but I never had the full credits so I had no idea. It's such a random video clip, with all the wrong people. It's quite confusing, when I watched it just then the mandolin solo sounded like something Adam Steffey really would have played! weird.

I totally agree with you. I've been listening to Alison Krauss since day one, and have always been a great fan. Even though I've got a slight emotional attachment to her early career, I don't think you can say her sound is dictated by money. I think the music she produces today is only a natural progression and a maturing of her tastes in music, it's like nobody elses, it's unique and tasteful. Why reject it because it's not pure bluegrass? And to me So long So wrong is an album of pure magic.

Still remember seeing this video for the first time and falling in love with that voice...I didn't find out who it was till years later when Now that I have found you was released. Great to see this video once again!

I'm not disagreeing that the style has changed...but then, so has the staff. My argument lies in the reasoning that the band changed in order to sell more albums. I think they just began exploring more creative sounds. And "Sawin' On the Strings" sounds fairly bluegrass (or new grass, moreso) to me, as does "Take Me For Longing." Both of those tunes came well after So Long, So Wrong and are led in vocal by Alison. From the getgo, AKUS' goal was to make music they enjoy, bluegrass or not.