About Greg Graffin's Lincoln's Funeral Train (Single)
Renowned as the frontman for legendary Los Angeles punk band Bad Religion, as well as an acclaimed solo artist, a professor of evolutionary biology and respected author, Graffin here interprets the song “Lincoln’s Funeral Train” by veteran bluegrass and folk artist Norman Blake.
Graffin had this to say about “Lincoln’s Funeral Train: “This song is such a sorrowful piece of Americana and is deeply significant today. The vision of that black funeral train heading west forever into the sunset is symbolic of today's flickering Republican torch. The Great Emancipator's passing is once again relevant: Lincoln was the founding President of the Republican Party, a blip so distant on the horizon that it is hardly recognizable anymore."
Graffin’s version replaces the original's acoustic bluegrass sensibilities with an unabashed guitar heaviness. A deliberate homage to Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse that serves to emphasize the timely power of the lyrics.
Backing Graffin on the track are several esteemed cohorts from the LA punk scene including Social Distortion members Jonny ‘Two Bags’ Wickersham, Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, with Bad Religion co-founder Brett Gurewitz handling the producing.