News and Grooves

News and Grooves 5-28 Last Train Leaving

• Jim Murray

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We blend incredible survival stories with original music for a unique listening experience that explores human resilience alongside evocative melodies that transport you through different emotional landscapes.

• Bear Grylls survived a 16,000-foot fall during SAS training when his parachute failed to inflate, breaking his back and requiring 12 months of intense physiotherapy
• Original song "Chicago Never Sleeps" captures the city's industrial spirit with vivid lyrics about neon lights and midnight streets
• Christine McKenzie survived an 11,000-foot fall when both her main parachute and reserve chute failed, with power lines breaking her fall
• Juliane Koepcke, just 17, was the sole survivor of 91 passengers when her plane was struck by lightning over Peru, spending 10 days in the jungle before rescue
• Original song "Times Have Changed" takes listeners on a nostalgic journey from the simple days of the 1960s through the cultural shifts of the 1970s
• Our retro-inspired "Mall Shop Queen" closes the episode with upbeat 1950s sock hop energy and malt shop romance vibes

Starting June 8th, we'll add a second weekly show with a stronger emphasis on music, featuring both original AI compositions and tracks from singer-songwriters.


Speaker 1:

Thanks for joining us. We hope you have a fantastic time, enjoy the show and relax. You're listening to the News and Grooves podcast.

Speaker 3:

Here is another original song for your total listening enjoyment.

Speaker 3:

The clock's hands tremble. It's nearly too late. The platform's alive with the whisper of fate. The rails haul, the dirge. The night's giving in. Hold on to the edge of where it begins. The last train is leaving. It's the end of the line. The stars in the sky scream. We're out of time. Run through the shadows. Don't look behind. The last train is leaving. Hold tight to the climb.

Speaker 3:

The whistle. It wails like a ghost in the dark. A flicker of hope, just a fleeting spark. Your heart beats a drum pounding, steady and wild. The horizon's an ocean. The night is exiled. Oh, the last train is leaving. It's the end of the line. The stars in the sky scream. We're out of time. Run through the shadows. Don't look behind. The last train is leaving. Hold tight to the climb. Oh yeah, the engine. It roars Like a beast in the storm. Every step to the steel breaks away what's worn. The city fades fast, collapsing in flames. You race the dead air to outrun your pain. To outrun your pain. The last train is leaving. It's the end of the line. The stars in the sky Scream. We're out of time. Run through the shadows. Don't look behind. The last train is leaving. Hold tight to the climb.

Speaker 4:

Hold tight to the climb. Bear Grylls almost died in an SAS training mission. Before he became a popular television personality and adventurer, Bear Grylls spent a short amount of time in the armed forces. During this military service, he was involved with the SAS Territorial Army and took part in a training exercise over Zambia. During a skydive, his parachute failed to inflate. Thinking he had time to fix the problem before he hit the ground, he chose not to open the reserve chute and instead fell 16,000 feet and landed on his parachute pack. Although he narrowly avoided severing his spinal cord, he did break his back, which required him to go through 12 months of 10-hour-a-day physiotherapy.

Speaker 5:

Dolly Parton. Born in Tennessee in 1946, this beloved American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is revered for her distinctively emotive voice and heartfelt storytelling that spans genres like country pop, bluegrass and gospel. With a career spanning over six decades, she's released numerous hit songs and albums that showcase her ability to connect with listeners through raw emotion and honest lyrics. In addition to her musical achievements, she's also an accomplished actress, philanthropist and cultural icon who continues to inspire generations.

Speaker 6:

Christine McKenzie fell 11,000 feet onto power lines. August 2004 was not a good month for South African skydiver Christine McKenzie. The 23-year-old, was in free fall when her parachute failed to open. The 23-year-old was in free fall when her parachute failed to open. This prompted her to try her reserve chute, but this, too, malfunctioned and became tangled as it partially inflated. The incredibly rare occurrence meant that McKenzie hardly slowed before she smashed into a series of power lines before hitting the ground. Those power lines saved her life, though, absorbing most of the energy from the fall and drastically reducing her impact. Despite the fact that literally everything that could go wrong in her jump did go wrong, mckenzie managed to survive with just a broken pelvis and some bruising.

Speaker 3:

The wind hits sharp down the crowded street. Neon hums where the shadows meet. Smoke in the alleys drifts deep and thick. Street. Neon hums where the shadows meet. Smoke in the alleys drifts, deep and thick. A city of dreams that turns real quick. The trains rattle loud. They never rest. Concrete jungle puts you to the test. The river snakes through with a midnight glow. Chicago's blues don't let you go.

Speaker 3:

Chicago never sleeps, it cries, it sings. The city of steel and forgotten kings, it cries, it sings. City of steel and forgotten kings. Under clouded skies. The heartbeat creeps, restless soul where Chicago never sleeps. We'll be right back. Chicago never sleeps, it cries, it sings. City of steel and forgotten kings. Under clouded skies, the heartbeat creeps, restless soul when Chicago never sleeps. Footsteps echo on the slick brick ground. Souls keep searching, but there's none to be found. The souls keep searching, but there's none to be found. Street lamps flicker like a ghostly grin. Chicago don't care where you've been. She howls her tune in the dead of night, a cobalt waltz under moonlight's bite. Prom Promises break, but you'll keep them close. Cold embrace the one you'll toast. The one you'll toast. Chicago never sleeps, it cries, it sings. City of steel and forgotten kings. Under clouded skies.

Speaker 4:

Julianne Kupke lived after her plane was struck by lightning. Julianne Kupke was a passenger on a flight traveling over Peru on Christmas Eve in 1971 when the plane began to experience heavy turbulence. After several minutes of passing through the storm, an engine on the wing was hit by lightning and the aircraft plummeted towards the ground. Julian was the only survivor out of the 91 passengers on board, and the 17-year-old landed in the jungle with a broken collarbone, one shoe and only a few sweets for food. She spent 10 days in the Peruvian jungle before she was rescued. The leading theory for how she survived is that the heavy vegetation softened her fall, while the row of seats she was strapped in acted as a makeshift glider.

Speaker 3:

Back in the 60s, life was slow. People gathered, friends, they'd know, sitting on porches, sipping sweet tea. Simple times for you and me Family, strong Sunday meals, hard work, but no big deals. Children played Till twilight's glow. In a sense, we used to know. Times have changed, that's for sure. Nothing stays as it was before. We've grown apart. It seems so strange. Oh, in these decades, times have changed. Then came the 70s. A brand new face Bell-bottom jeans and discos. Crazed Protests rang Through city streets. Different beats, but the same heartbeats Color TV and motorhomes. Freedom found on winding roads. Dreams on wheels they chase the sun. New adventures just begun. Times have changed, that's for sure. Nothing stays as it was before. We've grown apart. Seems so strange. Oh, in these decades, times have changed. Then came the 70s. A brand new face Bell-bottom jeans and discos. Crazed Protests ran through city streets. Different beats, but the same Heartbeats Color TV and motorhomes. Freedom found On winding roads. Dreams on wheels they chase the sun. New adventure's just begun.

Speaker 1:

Starting Sunday, june 8th, news Grooves will add a second show. So there will be two different shows running each week and all week. The Sunday show will be a little different. We will put more of a priority on music than stories. We will also add some singer-songwriters and their music to mix in with the greatest original AI music in the world. So mark your calendar. Starting June 8th 2 news and grooves a week.

Speaker 3:

Met her on a Friday. Shiny, soda pop, light Poodle skirt, swaying hair done up so right, eyes like candy, sweet as cherry pie. She smiled at me like stars in the sky jukebox humming tunes, buzzing the air, leather jacket, cool. But I didn't even care. She laughed when I fumbled, dropped my shake. Her sugar rush hit me hard. Heart started to ache.

Speaker 3:

Oh mall shop queen, Dreaming in neon glow, spinning, twirling On the checkered floor show. She's the kind of thrill the jukebox always seems. Oh mall shop queen, why'd you give me wings? Midnight struck, but we didn't want to go. Dance moves, slick feet, tapping just so. Root beer floats and a double straw sip. Her laugh poured over like honey from her lips, flickering lights as the shop was closing down. We stayed outside, watched the sleepy little town. She twirled her hair, smile, said see you real soon Under the marquee and a glowing crescent moon. Oh, mall shop queen, dreaming in neon blue, spinning and twirling on the checkered floor show. She's the kind of thrill the jukebox always sings. Oh mall shop queen, why'd you give me wings? Engines growling, greasers roll by. But she's my spark, my light. Don't gotta try. Stars ain't shining. It's her light in the dark. A malt shop memory burning in my heart. Malt shop queen, dreaming in neon glow, spinning and twirling on the checkered floor show. She's the kind of thrill that jukebox always sings. Oh, mall shop queen, why'd you give me wings?

Speaker 1:

Well, I guess that is it for May. Enjoy the summer and tune in to News and Grooves we are out of here.