Mystery Train
Country Cattin' Lyrics
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Train I ride, sixteen coaches long
Well, that long black train, got my baby and gone
Train, train, comin' round the bend
Train, train, comin' round the bend
Well, it took my baby, but it never will again
No, not again
Train, train, comin' down, down the line
Train, train, comin' down, down the line
Well, it's bringin' my baby, 'cause she's mine, all mine
She's mine, all mine
Train, train, comin' round, round the bend
Round, round the bend
Train, train, comin' round, round the bend
Round, round the bend
Well, it took my baby, but it never will again
Never will again
Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-hoo
The song "Mystery Train" by Country Cattin' is a classic blues composition that talks about a man's sufferings after his lover left him on a train. The train, with its sixteen black coaches, symbolizes the distance between the singer and his lover, as she travels farther and farther away from him. The chorus that repeats throughout the song speaks of the train "comin' round the bend" and how it took his baby the first time, but it will never take her again. The final stanza is a repetition of the chorus and serves to emphasize the singer's anguish and suffering.
The song's theme is relatable, and it has been covered by several artists over the years. Elvis Presley famously covered the song and made it his own, adding his signature rock and roll twist to it. Other artists such as Johnny Cash and The Band have also recorded their own versions of the song.
The song's lyrics have a haunting and eerie quality that adds to the song's melancholic nature. The use of repetition in the chorus helps drive home the emotional turmoil the singer is experiencing. The final stanza's repetition of the chorus, with the addition of the drawn-out "Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-hoo," serves as a sort of emotional release, a howl of pain from the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Train I ride, sixteen coaches long
I am riding on a very long train with sixteen coaches.
Well, that long black train, got my baby and gone
A long black train took my baby away from me and now she is gone.
Train, train, comin' round the bend
Another train is coming around the bend.
Well, it took my baby, but it never will again
The train took my baby away, but it will never happen again.
Train, train, comin' down, down the line
Another train is coming down the line.
Well, it's bringin' my baby, 'cause she's mine, all mine
The train is bringing my baby back to me because she is all mine.
Train, train, comin' round, round the bend
Another train is coming around the bend.
Well, it took my baby, but it never will again
The train took my baby away, but it will never happen again.
Never will again
It is impossible for the train to take my baby away again.
Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-hoo
A vocalization expressing emotion or excitement.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HERMAN PARKER JR., SAM PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind