Ball the Jack
Chris G. Thorne
Could someone explain to a railroad neophyte, the meaning of the term
"ball the jack"? (heard it in a train song).
Thanks
--
Chris G. Thorne
St. John's, Newfoundland
Chris G. Thorne
jack", hoping for an explanation from you train buffs. I think the term
refers to steam trains, and is from the folk tune "Georgia Mail".
The verse in question goes, "...see the driver scramble, watch it spin the
tracks, they oughta put that engineer in jail; has he got her rolling,
watch her ball the jack, bringin' in the Georgia Mail...."
Any help appreciated
Evan Werkema
>I posted a querie yesterday concerning the supposed railway term "ball the
>jack", hoping for an explanation from you train buffs. I think the term
>refers to steam trains, and is from the folk tune "Georgia Mail".
>The verse in question goes, "...see the driver scramble, watch it spin the
>tracks, they oughta put that engineer in jail; has he got her rolling,
>watch her ball the jack, bringin' in the Georgia Mail...."
This is kind of eerie (Erie?) as I was about to ask the same question.
I've heard the expression in a song too, Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo
Chaboogie:"
Gonna settle down by the railroad track
And live the life of Reilly in the beaten down shack
So when I hear a whistle I can peep through the crack
And watch the train a-rollin' when he's ballin' the jack...
If I had to guess, I say a train that was "balling the jack" was one that
was really making time...as to the origin, I don't know. Maybe something
to do with the old ball signals (as in Highballing)?
-- _________ _________
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IoI oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo IoI IoI oo oo oo oo oo I~~I IoI
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--Evan Werkem...@po.cwru.edu--"Ship and Travel Santa Fe...All the Way!"--
Robert Brazile
In article <D6n26...@freenet.carleton.ca> at...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Chris G. Thorne) writes:
>I posted a querie yesterday concerning the supposed railway term "ball the
>jack", hoping for an explanation from you train buffs. I think the term
>refers to steam trains, and is from the folk tune "Georgia Mail".
>The verse in question goes, "...see the driver scramble, watch it spin the
>tracks, they oughta put that engineer in jail; has he got her rolling,
>watch her ball the jack, bringin' in the Georgia Mail...."
This is kind of eerie (Erie?) as I was about to ask the same question.
I've heard the expression in a song too, Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo
Chaboogie:"
Gonna settle down by the railroad track
And live the life of Reilly in the beaten down shack
So when I hear a whistle I can peep through the crack
And watch the train a-rollin' when he's ballin' the jack...
If I had to guess, I say a train that was "balling the jack" was one that
was really making time...as to the origin, I don't know. Maybe something
to do with the old ball signals (as in Highballing)?
Count me as one who wants to know; there's a line in Hoagy
Carmichael's "The Monkey Song" that contains the phrase.
My best attempt at transcribing that part of the lyrics:
well a monkey heard swing
down the woola woola ling
he got bit he got bit by the beat of it
a hopped upon an hippo's back
and with a grin he went into his dance
singin zippity-ackity-back
and King Rebop said "You stop. You ain't
exactly on the backbeat"
look at my feet then he shuffled up a rhythm
got the monkey goin' with him
in a minute they were ballin' the jack of the sand (?)
Anyone know the answer?
--
Robert Brazile bra...@centerline.com
CenterLine Software +1 (617) 498-3231
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Donald D Forsling
subject of several posts lately. So far, nobody has been able to say for
sure what "ball the jack" means for sure. Neither can I. But some may find
the following stuff interesting:
The "Historical Dictionary of American Slang" says that "ball the jack"
means: to go fast (said espcially of a railroad train), make haste; (hence)
to run away. The 1913 quote from a well-known ragtime song gave the phrase
wide currency and referred specifically to a dance step presumably
introduced by the song. Whether the phrase itself was coined at the same
time is uncertain. This reference is to the Jim Burris and Jim Smith song
called, "Ballin' the Jack" as in..."and that's what I call ballin' the
jack."
In a show called the Handy "Blues Treasury" of 1914, there was a song line
that went like this: "...said a black-haired gal make a freight train jump
the track/But a long tall gal make a preacher ball the jack."
The phrase appeared in 1918 in a show called "Singing Soldiers" as in "I come
to France to make de Kaiser ball de Jack."
There are several other references to musicals, plays, and movies where
the term shows up. For example: From "Long Steel Rail" comes "For the
Four-twenty-seven was sure ballin' the jack." In "Bluejackets" of 1932 we
hear that, "It was not long before we were ballin' the jack across the
plains of Leon."
In 1945 in "Railroad Avenue" by Hubbard, the author states that "the verb
*highball* or the phrase *ball the jack* means to make a fast run.
In Bernstein and Woodward, "The President's Men," we find the phrase, "Maury
came through here like a goddamned train...he was really ballin' the jack."
In addition to the "go fast" definition, there is a second one: To work
hard and efficiently, as in James Jones' "From Here to Eternity:" "Tell me,
how's that outfit of your getting along? Still ballin the jack."
So there you are. There are all kinds of references to useages of
"ballin the jack"
but not a word as to what "ballin" (in this context) or "jack" (in this
context) mean. What an elusive phrase. Sure it means, "make the train go
fast" but why does it mean that?
Only the Shadow knows.
Hope this helps or it at least slightly interesting.
--
Don Forsling
fors...@iastate.edu
"IOWA...Gateway to Those Big Rectangular States"
Al Stangenberger
: In 1945 in "Railroad Avenue" by Hubbard, the author states that "the verb
: *highball* or the phrase *ball the jack* means to make a fast run.
Maybe the term "jack" in some cases means locomotive. I remember an article
in Trains long ago titled "Pennsy's 'New' Juice Jacks" referring to a
type of electric locomotive.
--
Al Stangenberger Univ. of California at Berkeley
for...@nature.berkeley.edu Dept. of Env. Sci., Policy, & Mgt.
BITNET: FORAGS AT UCBNATUR 145 Mulford Hall # 3114
(510) 642-4424 FAX: (510) 643-5438 Berkeley, CA 94720-3114
Robert Heller
In a message on 11 April, wrote :
fo> So there you are. There are all kinds of references to useages of
fo> "ballin the jack"
fo> but not a word as to what "ballin" (in this context) or "jack" (in this
fo> context) mean. What an elusive phrase. Sure it means, "make the train g
fo> fast" but why does it mean that?
fo>
fo> Only the Shadow knows.
fo>
fo> Hope this helps or it at least slightly interesting.
This reminds me of a George Karlin bit: He was referring to the phrase
"kit and kabodle" (SP)?. Now everyone knows what a kit is, but what is
a kabodle? (The same bit also wonders where Roebuck of Sears & Roebuck
went).
Sounds like this is another phrase whose parts make little sense out of
context.
Robert
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Colin R. Leech
In a previous posting, Chris G. Thorne (at...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
> Could someone explain to a railroad neophyte, the meaning of the term
> "ball the jack"? (heard it in a train song).
There's a whole Dixieland tune named "Ballin' the Jack".
--
Colin R. Leech |-> Civil Engineer by training,
ag...@freenet.carleton.ca |-> Transportation Planner by choice,
h:613-224-2301 w:613-741-6440 |-> Trombonist by hobby.
My opinions are my own, not my employer's. You may consider them shareware.
Chris G. Thorne
In a previous posting, Donald D Forsling (fors...@iastate.edu) writes:
> The phrase "ball the jack" and the phrase "ballin' the jack" have been the
> subject of several posts lately. So far, nobody has been able to say for
> sure what "ball the jack" means for sure. Neither can I. But some may find
Some deleted
> So there you are. There are all kinds of references to useages of
> "ballin the jack"
> but not a word as to what "ballin" (in this context) or "jack" (in this
> context) mean. What an elusive phrase. Sure it means, "make the train go
> fast" but why does it mean that?
>
> Only the Shadow knows.
>
> Hope this helps or it at least slightly interesting.
> --
> Don Forsling
Yes Don, it's more than slightly interesting. You're a veritable folklorist.
Someone else posted information that was interesting also.
It had to do with the theory that "balling the jack" and "highballing",
both have something to do with the old railroad ball signals. I'm
wondering if these signals have some sort of mechanism that raised a
"ball" for example, on some sort of pole with a speed increase. I'm hoping
that someone else with some "old railway" knowledge can expand on this.
Carl Henderson
> Donald D Forsling (fors...@iastate.edu) wrote:
>
> : In 1945 in "Railroad Avenue" by Hubbard, the author states that "the verb
> : *highball* or the phrase *ball the jack* means to make a fast run.
>
> Maybe the term "jack" in some cases means locomotive. I remember an article
> in Trains long ago titled "Pennsy's 'New' Juice Jacks" referring to a
> type of electric locomotive.
>
From the Glossary in the back of Lucius Beebe's "High Iron" (1938):
JACK: Locomotive.
Unfortunately, there is no reference to 'ball the jack'. Maybe ball is
short for highball.
HIGHBALL: Signal for clear track, deriving from the first train signals
which were in the form of painted metal globes hoisted to the crossarm of
a tall pole when trains were to proceed.
carl
>
Carl Henderson
Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory
University of Michigan
2005 C.C. Little Bldg.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1063 USA
-----------------------------------------------------
(313) 936-1550 (voice) **** Next time, ****
(313) 763-4690 (FAX) *** take the ***
che...@umich.edu (e-mail) **** train! ****
-----------------------------------------------------
Calvin Henry-Cotnam
: It had to do with the theory that "balling the jack" and "highballing",
: both have something to do with the old railroad ball signals.
I understand how the old train-order signals used a ball that was
left in the "high" position to indicate that a train need not stop
for instructions, and therefore could "highball" on through.
I can sort of see some kind of connection with "balling the jack", but
would really like to hear the full explanation.
There are an awful lot of expressions used today where the original
roots have been long forgotten. Did anyone here realize that the
"five golden rings" in the 12 days of Christmas were referring to a
type of bird and not yellow metalic hoops one wears on a finger?
--
Calvin Henry-Cotnam | "It's the Liberal government - they get tremendous
CATE/Ryerson | support from low income poeple. The more people they
Toronto, Ontario | keep on low incomes, the more support they get."
Canada | - Larry King (of Kensington - aka: Al Waxman - 1975)
Fitzwilliam
flag the "Union Jack". So if we "ball the jack", we run the ball up the
pole to where the jack is, that is to say, highball!
This could be how "ballin' the jack" came to be an equivalent for
"highball" in the sense of making a fast run, but this is pure
speculation on my part.
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K. Deutscher
Al Stangenberger <for...@smokey.Berkeley.EDU> wrote:
>Donald D Forsling (fors...@iastate.edu) wrote:
>
>: In 1945 in "Railroad Avenue" by Hubbard, the author states that "the verb
>: *highball* or the phrase *ball the jack* means to make a fast run.
>
>Maybe the term "jack" in some cases means locomotive. I remember an article
>type of electric locomotive.
>
Perhaps the term "highball" refers to the hand signal to proceed -
with the lantern held high...
>Al Stangenberger Univ. of California at Berkeley
>for...@nature.berkeley.edu Dept. of Env. Sci., Policy, & Mgt.
>BITNET: FORAGS AT UCBNATUR 145 Mulford Hall # 3114
>(510) 642-4424 FAX: (510) 643-5438 Berkeley, CA 94720-3114
--
K.Deutscher - o...@vpnet.chi.il.us - The...@aol.com
--------------------------------------------------->
jcj
>Perhaps the term "highball" refers to the hand signal to proceed -
>with the lantern held high...
Refers to a very old (1860s?) signalling where a ball would be hoisted up
a signal mast for "clear". Just saw an illustration of a ball signal somewhere...
--
j...@tellabs.com
(UPI) - A Beaver County man has been convicted in Pittsburgh of criminal
mischief for standing on a track and acting as a matador, causing a freight
train to derail.
Chris G. Thorne
thread:
SEE THAT ENGINE PUFFIN', BOY SHE'S MAKING TIME
THAT OLD TRAIN'S A GOING OFF THE RAIL
HEADING FOR THE MOUNTAIN THAT SHE'S GOT TO CLIMB
BRINGIN' IN THE GEORGIA MAIL
NINETY MILES AN HOUR AND SHE'S GAINING SPEED
JUST LISTEN TO THAT WHISTLE MOAN AND WAIL
HAS SHE GOT THE POWER, I SAY YES INDEED
BRINGIN' IN THE GEORGIA MAIL
SEE THE DRIVER SCRAMBLE, WATCH IT SPIN THE TRACK
THEY OUGHT TO PUT THAT ENGINEER IN JAIL
HAS HE GOT HER ROLLING, WATCH HER BALL THE JACK
BRINGIN' IN THE GEORGIA MAIL
ROCKING AND A ROLLING, SPOUTING OFF THE STEAM
STOKE THE FIRE AND HOPE THE BRAKES DON'T FAIL
SERVING ALL THE PEOPLE, LISTEN TO HER SCREAM
BRINGIN' IN THE GEORGIA MAIL
-- Reno and Harrell
That imagery must be great for you steam buffs.........
Chester A. Roberts, Jr.
I checked the glossary of a 1930's book, "The High Iron", and a
1940's railroad magazine that also had a glossary of railroad
terms: Both defined the word "Jack" as a term for a locomotive.
It further stated the term was more popular in the South and
tended to refer to Consolidation type locomotives.
My wife sang me the lyrics of the song (she used to tap dance to
it as a child) "Balling the Jack" and there is no railroad
reference.
Regards, Chet Roberts, ed...@cleveland.freenet.edu
Darryl Van Nort
>On 11 Apr 1995, Al Stangenberger wrote:
>
>> Donald D Forsling (fors...@iastate.edu) wrote:
>>
>> : In 1945 in "Railroad Avenue" by Hubbard, the author states that "the verb
>> : *highball* or the phrase *ball the jack* means to make a fast run.
>>
>> Maybe the term "jack" in some cases means locomotive. I remember an article
>> in Trains long ago titled "Pennsy's 'New' Juice Jacks" referring to a
>> type of electric locomotive.
>>
>
>
>JACK: Locomotive.
>
>Unfortunately, there is no reference to 'ball the jack'. Maybe ball is
>short for highball.
>
>HIGHBALL: Signal for clear track, deriving from the first train signals
>which were in the form of painted metal globes hoisted to the crossarm of
>a tall pole when trains were to proceed.
>
>
>carl
>>
>
>Carl Henderson
>Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory
>University of Michigan
>2005 C.C. Little Bldg.
>Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1063 USA
>-----------------------------------------------------
>(313) 936-1550 (voice) **** Next time, ****
>(313) 763-4690 (FAX) *** take the ***
>che...@umich.edu (e-mail) **** train! ****
>-----------------------------------------------------
Given that a "Jack" is a loco, and to run on a clear signal (Highball)
is to "Highball" the train, it's probably most likely a contraction:
'ballin' the Jack...or running the train at top speed on clear signal.
I've got a book of lost phrases...when I can dig it up, I'll see if
this one's there and post if I find a difinitive answer.
..Darryl Van Nort
dev...@mcs.com
Highballing the Internet Mainline
http://www.mcs.net/~devanno/
btif...@pbs.org
> Perhaps the term "highball" refers to the hand signal to proceed -
> with the lantern held high...
Highball comes from the old ball signals. A clear indication was given by
raising the ball to the top of the mast. Only one ball signal remains today,
in New England.
-- Bruce Tiffany
RICHARD L. MORSE
Reference "ball the jack". An old phrase in th jargon of railroad talk.
It simply means that the engineer is running fast.