This is an incredibly emotional song. It is the ONLY song ever to win the songwriters award that was not written by Americans, so we Australians are very proud of it.
It tells the story of the singer's grandmother. During the Second World War she married a US (Yankee) sailor. When the war ended, the US government chartered a ship to take all the Australian brides to America. It meant they'd be leaving their families and their country, so they were happy and they were sad at the same time. She had to go to Fremantle (called Freo in the song) to catch a train called The Monterey, to travel for 4 days across Australia to catchthe ship from Sydney.
First, please watch an interview with the girls as they explain the history behind the story. You'll have to come to my lessons to learn all the vocabulary, and try to hear the very strong Australian accent as Vikki sings the lead on the song.
Ok, you are now ready to watch and listen to the complete song. At the end, I will give you the words.
Bridal Train Lyrics Artist(Band):The Waifs
Telegram arrived today It's time to catch the Monterey Cause the man I wed he waits for me And the daughter that he's yet to see
U.S. navy beamed its message ''will 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 of her land she's gone to meet her sailor man
no time for sad goodbyes 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 the faded photo of a man catch a sailor if you can the war bride leaves her southern land
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 of her land she's gone to meet her sailor man
this is the story of the starry nights through desert plains and city lights through burning sun and driving rain she wept aboard the bridal train
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