Planes, Trains Or Automobiles? Quiz

Answer: Train

"Take the last train to Clarksville
And I'll meet you at the station"

The "Last Train to Clarksville" was the first single for "The Monkees". It was released in 1966 and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song was written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart about a young man being drafted in the Vietnam war. He's taking the last train possible so he can spend as much time as he can with his loved ones in case he never sees them again. The repeated lyric "And I don't know if I'm ever coming home" is a reminder that he may die over there.

Answer: Plane

"Daniel is traveling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain
Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes"

From Elton John's 1973 hit "Daniel".

This is another song with it's inspiration from the Vietnam War. It tells the story of a blinded veteran returning home to his Texas ranch just wanting to have his old life back. Unlike many others he is actually hailed as a hero but this is not what he wants and he escapes them all by going to Spain.

The song is written from the perspective of his brother.

Answer: Boat

"When I was a young boy
I wanted to sail around the world
That's the life for me, living on the sea
Spirit of a sailor, circumnavigates the globe...
I just spent six months in a leaky boat
Lucky just to keep afloat"

"Six Months in a Leaky Boat" was released in 1982 and created a minor controversy in the UK as it was rumoured to be about the Falklands War which had just commenced. Radio stations were 'discouraged' from playing it during this period.

The rumour was actually unfounded. The song was recorded a month before the conflict began and the lyrics actually refer to Tim Finns' nervous breakdown following the end of his marriage the previous year. Tim Finn was the lead singer of this very successful New Zealand band of the 1970's and early 80's

Answer: Car

"Well I remember every little thing
As if it happened only yesterday
Parking by the lake
And there was not another car in sight"

The entire song takes place in a car and depicts "Paradise by the Dashboard Light".

This 1977 classic was written by Jim Steinman and sang by Meatloaf and Ellen Foley. At 8 minutes and 28 seconds it is one of the longest tracks ever recorded on a 45 record.

The song has three separate parts:

"Paradise": A man and women are in a car reminiscing about being on a date together back in high school. This includes the broadcasting of a baseball game on the radio which is a metaphorical commentary on the physical action taking place in the car. Our male protagonist is about to 'steal home base' when the girl demands he stop.

"Let Me Sleep On It": This second segment is a duet with the girl refusing to go further without the boy promising to marry her and love her forever while the boy is trying to get out of making a commitment and asking for more time. She eventually wins.

"Praying For the End Of Time": Part three commences back in the modern time with the boy wishing he hadn't made the promise, he wont renege on it so he just wants it all to be over.

Answer: Train

"The downtown trains are full
full of all them Brooklyn girls
They try so hard to break out of their little worlds ..
Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Every night, every night its just the same
On a downtown train"

"Downtown Train" was first released by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits in 1985. Although Waits has a cult following his music does not have much support from radio or other media. His work is much better known as cover versions by other artists. Another of his famous songs is Bruce Springsteen's "Jersey Girl".

Rod Stewart's cover version of "Downtown Train" was released 4 years later, in 1989, making the charts in the US, UK and Canada. His version had Jeff Beck playing the slide guitar and received a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocals.

Answer: Boat

"Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! the sailors cry;
Carry the lad that's born to be King
Over the sea to Skye."

"The Skye Boat Song" sings of the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1746 after he was defeated at Culloden. He was taken in a boat from Uist to the Isle of Skye by Flora Macdonald while dressed as her serving maid. (From here he was later taken safely to France)

Bonnie Prince Charlie is Charles Edward Stuart, the grandson of King James II of England and VII of Scotland. King James was the last Stuart King of Great Britain and the Jacobites wanted to restore the family to the throne. They had tried with James II son (Charlie's father) James Francis Edward Stuart but he was killed in the 1688 revolution.

Bonnie Prince Charlie was recognized, and called, Charles III by those who supported him. Those who didn't referred to him as 'The Young Pretender' - his father was known as 'The Old Pretender.'

Answer: Plane

"So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go"

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" was written in 1967 by John Denver for his first solo album "Rhymes and Reasons". It was recorded by a number of other artists the same year but did not become a hit until 1969 when it was released as a single by Peter, Paul and Mary.

Peter, Paul and Mary were a very successful folk group of the 1960's comprising Peter Yarrow, Noel 'Paul' Stookey, and Mary Travers. "Leaving On A Jet Plane" was their biggest hit and their only song to make it to number one on the charts. The group disbanded in 1970 so it was also their last hit.

Answer: Train

"Just another town, another train
Waiting in the morning rain
Lord, just give my restless soul a little patience
Just another town, another train
Nothing lost and nothing gained
Guess I will spend my life in railway stations
Guess I will spend my life in railway stations"

ABBA recorded "Another Town, Another Train" in 1973 on their first album "Ring Ring". This album was only originally released in a small number of countries - Scandinavia, West Germany, Australia, Mexico and South Africa.

It was re-released in Australia in 1975 but it's first UK release wasn't until 1992 and the US had to wait until 1995. The group didn't take the name ABBA until late 1973 so the original releases have "Björn, Benny, Agnetha, Frida" on the cover. The group own an official trademark on their name with the first 'B' reversed.

Answer: Car

"He drove his car to the racing grounds
He was the youngest driver there
The crowed roared as they started the race
'Round the track they drove at a deadly pace
No one knows what happened that day
How his car overturned in flames
But as they pulled him from the twisted wreck
With his dying breath, they heard him say
Tell Laura I love her, tell Laura I need her
Tell Laura not to cry
My love for her will never die'

"Tell Laura I Love Her" was a hit in the US in 1960 for Ray Peterson where it reached number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Ricky Valance performed a cover version in the UK later in the same year where it reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. Since then it has sold more than seven million copies and been a hit in 14 countries.

Marilyn Michaels performed a song called "Tell Tommy I Miss Him" in response to this on the album "The Answer To Everything - Girl Answer Songs Of The '60s".

Answer: Boat

"So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home"

The "Sloop John B" was originally a traditional folk song of the West Indies. It was first mentioned in "Pieces of Eight", a novel written in 1917, but it is unknown whether the song pre-existed the novel or was written by the author for the novel.

There are known recorded versions of the song in 1927 and 1935, Kingston Trio made a cover in 1958 which is the version that influenced the most famous recording - "The Beach Boys" in 1966. The Rolling Stones list of 'The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time' has The Beach Boys "Sloop John B" at number 271.