In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Choo Choo Ch
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tired of transportation in the back of a hack
I love to hear the rhythm of the clickety clack
And hear the lonesome whistle, see the smoke from the stack
Pal around with Democratic fellows named Mack
So, take me right back to the track, Jack
[Chorus]
Woo woo, woo woo ch' boogie
Choo choo, choo choo ch' boogie
Take me right back to the track, Jack
You reach your destination, but alas & alack
You need some compensation to get back in the black
You take the morning paper from the top of the stack
And read the situation from the front to the back
The only job that's open needs a man with a knack
So put it right back in the rack, jack
[Chorus]
Well I'm gonna settle down by the railroad track
And lead the life of Riley in a beaten down shack
And when I hear the whistle I can peep through the crack
And see the train a' rollin' while she's ballin' the jack
I just love the rhtyhm of the clickety clack
So take me right back to the track
The song Ch'oo Choo Ch' Boogie by Asleep At The Wheel is about the joy of traveling by train. The first verse describes the singer's weariness of traveling by hack, or horse-drawn carriage, and how he loves the sound of the train rhythm and the sight of smoke from the train's stack. He also mentions his fondness for a group of Democratic friends named Mack. The chorus then repeats the title phrase, expressing the excitement of the train's movement in a jazzy tone.
The second verse speaks of reaching one's destination but needing compensation to get back on track financially. The imagery of reading a morning newspaper from front to back underlines the overwhelming sense of defeat that comes with financial difficulty. It then mentions a job opportunity and laments the need for a specific skill. The chorus follows, and then the final verse speaks of the singer's desire to live beside the railroad track, living a simple life in a shack. He mentions looking through the cracks in the wood to watch the train pass by, enjoying the clacking rhythm of the wheels.
In summary, the song is a celebration of the excitement and freedom of train travel, contrasting it with the frustration of being stuck in a financial rut. Its jazzy sound adds to the playful, carefree tone of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Heading for the station with a pack on my back
I'm on my way to the station with a backpack on my back
Tired of transportation in the back of a hack
I'm tired of riding in the back of a taxi cab
I love to hear the rhythm of the clickety clack
I enjoy listening to the sound of the train moving on the tracks
And hear the lonesome whistle, see the smoke from the stack
I also like hearing the train whistle and seeing the smoke from the engine
Pal around with Democratic fellows named Mack
I hang out with some friends who are Democrats and go by the name Mack
So, take me right back to the track, Jack
So, please take me back to the train station, Jack
Choo choo, choo choo ch' boogie
The train is moving with a rhythmic sound - choo choo ch' boogie
Woo woo, woo woo ch' boogie
The train's whistle is also making a sound - woo woo ch' boogie
You reach your destination, but alas & alack
You finally arrive at your destination, but unfortunately
You need some compensation to get back in the black
You need some form of payment to recover from your financial loss
You take the morning paper from the top of the stack
You pick up the morning newspaper from the pile
And read the situation from the front to the back
You read the entire paper to stay informed about the situation
The only job that's open needs a man with a knack
The only available job requires someone with a special skill or talent
So put it right back in the rack, jack
So, just forget about that job opportunity, Jack
Take me right back to the track, Jack
Please take me back to the train station, Jack
Well I'm gonna settle down by the railroad track
I'm planning to live near the railroad tracks
And lead the life of Riley in a beaten down shack
I'm going to live a carefree and comfortable life in a simple, run-down house
And when I hear the whistle I can peep through the crack
Whenever I hear the train whistle, I can look through a small opening in my house
And see the train a' rollin' while she's ballin' the jack
I can watch the train moving while it's going very fast
I just love the rhtyhm of the clickety clack
I really enjoy the sound of the train moving on the tracks
So take me right back to the track
Please take me back to the train station
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Denver Darling, Milton Gabler, Vaughn Horton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
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Ben - Moderator
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Eddie
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