Copyright Registration for "Freight Train"

On November 3, 1958, Elizabeth Cotten's iconic song "Freight Train" was officially copyrighted. This event marked a watershed moment in Cotten's career and the folk music genre at large. The copyright provided Cotten with recognition and legal protection for her work, ensuring that her composition would be attributed to her in the expanding American folk music canon. "Freight Train" became Cotten's signature song, celebrated for its lyrical simplicity and musical depth, and it quickly rose in prominence within the folk music community and beyond. This copyright not only safeguarded Cotten's artistic rights but also solidified her influence in the revival and proliferation of folk music during the mid-20th century.