The members of The Band first worked together as The Hawks, the backing band of rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins from 1959 until 1963. Shortly afterwards, Bob Dylan came to Toronto and recruited the quintet for his history-making 1965/1966 world tour. The Band also worked with Dylan on the initial Blonde on Blonde sessions which, bar two tracks, were ultimately abandoned in favour of versions recorded with Nashville session musicians.
After a motorcycle accident in mid-1966, Dylan retreated from the public eye to his country house near Woodstock, New York. He was joined by the Band for some informal jam sessions starting in the autumn of 1967, nearly all of which were recorded. After being heavily bootleged, Columbia Records finally released The Basement Tapes in 1975, a selection of the better tracks recorded during the sessions along with new recordings by The Band.
Bob Dylan and The Band were reunited in 1974, recording Planet Waves for Asylum Records, Dylan's first album recorded for a record label other than Columbia. Although the album was released under Dylan's name alone, The Band joined Dylan for his first tour in eight years in support of Planet Waves, with some of the material recorded and released on the 1975 concert record Before the Flood.
Columbia Records finally released The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete in November 2014, featuring every surving recording from the original sessions in Woodstock.
People Get Ready
Bob Dylan and The Band Lyrics
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There's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage you just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesel comin'
Don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord
People get ready
Picking up passengers from coast to coast
Faith is key
Open the doors and board them
There's hope for all among the love the most
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own soul
Have pity on those whose choices grow thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Kingdom's throne
People get ready
There's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage you just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesel comin'
Don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord
There's a train there's a train there's a train comin' people
There's a train there's a train there's a train comin' people
There's a train there's a train there's a train comin' people
Just get on board
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own soul
Have pity on those whose choices grow thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Kingdom's throne
The song "People Get Ready" by Bob Dylan and The Band is a gospel-inspired tune that centers around the idea of a train coming to take believers to their destination. The train symbolizes the gateway to heaven and the passengers are those who have faith in God. The lyrics encourage people to get ready for the train by having faith and letting go of their worldly possessions. The line "there's hope for all among the love the most" suggests that even those who feel lost or hopeless can be saved if they have faith and love.
The song also touches on the idea of judgment day, with the lines "There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner who would hurt all mankind just to save his own soul" and "There ain't no hiding place from the Kingdom's throne". This warns listeners that they should live their lives with kindness and love, or else they will be left behind when the train comes. The repetition of the chorus "People get ready, there's a train a comin'" emphasizes the urgency of the message and encourages listeners to take action.
Overall, "People Get Ready" is a straightforward message of faith and salvation. Its gospel-inspired sound and powerful lyrics make it a memorable and impactful song.
Line by Line Meaning
People get ready
Prepare yourselves
There's a train a comin'
Change or opportunity is approaching
You don't need no baggage you just get on board
Don't bring unnecessary burdens
All you need is faith
Belief in oneself and others
To hear the diesel comin'
To be attentive to the signs of change
Don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord
Gratefulness to a higher power is all that is necessary
Train to Jordan
A metaphorical journey towards change and redemption
Picking up passengers from coast to coast
Opportunities are available to all across the land
Faith is key
Belief is a necessary ingredient for success
Open the doors and board them
Be open to new opportunities and experiences
There's hope for all among the love the most
Love can be the source of hope and salvation
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Those who harm others for personal gain will not be accepted
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own soul
Selfishness at the expense of others is not tolerated
Have pity on those whose choices grow thinner
Empathy for those struggling with difficult decisions
There ain't no hiding place from the Kingdom's throne
There is no escape from the consequences of one's actions
There's a train there's a train there's a train comin' people
Change is imminent and cannot be ignored
Just get on board
Embrace the change and move forward
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind