One audio cassette. The full recording is a composite of side A and side B. Mealing and Wright recieved NEA National Heritage Fellowships in 1996. The Gandy Dancers (Vinson, Mealing, Jones, Brown, and Wright) sing while demonstrating track lining and spike driving.
On side A, Wright explains the origins of the term "gandy dancer" and the important role of the "caller" as the coordinator of the railway workers. At 3:45, he describes the different tools and skills needed for railway work, including tamping shovels and picks, spike mauls, track jacks, rail and tie tongs, lining bars, track wrenches, claw bars (spike pullers), and level boards. He explains the need for mathematical knowledge, strength and agility in railway work. At 10:30, he discusses his familial background, as well as the role of his mother in inspiring him to work on the railroad and get an education. At 14:20, he introduces the rest of the Gandy Dancers. He describes the morality of railway workers and their bawdiness in "the cut," as well as the role of the "caller" in keeping the men in line when women or children were around. At 17:06, Mealing introduces "Good Morning Everybody." At 21:20, Wright describes the meals that railway workers ate. At 22:20, he explains the different songs railway gangs sang and their importance to railway work. He also describes the role of the "caller" in organizing the labor. At 27:00, Wright introduces Mealing and his calls about preachers. At 28:20, Wright introduces Brown and his call. At 29:40, Wright answers a question about the pitch of the bars and their role in track lining songs.
On side B, Wright describes the role of the "dead-eye" and the necessary knowledge of metals and chemistry. He explains the expansion and contraction of the track and the elevation of curves. At 4:56, the Gandy Dancers demonstrate the use of tamping shovels. At 6:10, he describes the importance of a human feel in tamping the ballast and tells a story about his father remedying a soft spot in the track. At 13:50, the Gandy Dancers demonstrate track lining songs and the types of songs sung in "the cut." At 16:00, he defines the "cut" as places outside of the residential zones where dirtier language can be used. At 18:05, they demonstrate some of the racier songs, which Mealing leads. At 20:10, he tells a story from 1949 about a caller named Russell having to calm his railroad gang down with a song in the presence of a woman. At 23:20, Mealing introduces "We'll Understand It Better By and By." At 25:30, members of the audience approach and ask the Gandy Dancers questions. At 27:00, Wright describes convict labor in the mines and their adjustment to the light after being underground so long. At 28:30, Wright has a discussion with an audience member about steam engines near White Springs and the advent of new train technologies in Europe and Japan.
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