This predominantly Glaswegian act became one of the top-selling UK bands of the late 1980s/early 1990s. The group's members were Ricky Ross, Lorraine McIntosh, James Prime, Dougie Vipond, Ewan Vernal and Graeme Kelling.
Ross, a former school teacher originally from Dundee, was the group's frontman, penning the vast majority of Deacon Blue's songs. He married female vocalist Lorraine McIntosh in the later years of the band's career. McIntosh, born May 1964 in Glasgow joined the band in 1987 as a vocalist.
The band's first album, Raintown, produced by Jon Kelly and released in 1987, is regarded by many as the band's finest effort, spawning the singles "Dignity", "Chocolate Girl" and "Loaded". Many consider Raintown to be a concept album, since nearly all the songs contribute to the overall theme of being stuck in a dead-end life in a deprived city longing for something better. The city that the album's title refers to is Glasgow, and the memorable cover art of the album is a shot of the River Clyde's docks taken on a miserable day from Kelvingrove Park.
The second album, 1988's When The World Knows Your Name, was the band's most commercially successful, with the mega-selling singles "Real Gone Kid", "Wages Day" and "Fergus Sings The Blues". However, music critics began deriding the band at this stage for pursuing commercial success over artistic quality, citing the earlier achievements of Raintown.
Jon Kelly returned to the producer's chair in 1991 for Fellow Hoodlums, and the album was met with more critical success, but by now the group's honeymoon period was over and their success started to wane. This album was followed up with Whatever You Say, Say Nothing in 1993, a much more experimental album which gained praise from the critics, but was a commercial failure.
The band released a Greatest Hits compilation the following year.
With Vipond's decision to quit the group in favour for a career in television, Deacon Blue split up in 1994.
Five years later, the band held an unexpected reunion gig in 1999, and this led on to a new album, Walking Back Home, with the band now working on a part-time basis.
The band released another album, Homesick, in 2001.
Though Graeme Kelling died from cancer in 2004, the band has vowed to continue in his absence.
The year 2006 saw Deacon Blue returning to the studio to record three new tracks for a Singles album - including the track "Bigger than Dynamite".
The band performed at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium, as the pre-match entertainment for the Rugby League Super League Grand Final on the 14 October, and continued on to a full UK tour in November.
The album The Hipsters was released in 2012.
http://www.deaconblue.com/, followed by A New House, Believers, City of Love and Riding On The Tide Of Love.
In 2023 the band released a greatest hits set titled "All The Old 45's" along with a box set of all their albums titled "You Can Have It All".
Freedom Train
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The freedom train is coming, can't you hear the whistle blowing
Its time get your ticket and get on board
Its time for all the people to take this freedom ride
Get it together and work for freedom side by side
I'm gonna ride on the freedom train
I'm gonna get on the freedom train
from this day on I'll be a free man (yes I will I'll be a free man)
Seem like the times are changing people
The trains waiting at the station
go on up to the mountain top and get on board
Were gonna ride on through the valley
Under the clear blue sky
Everybody's gonna stand up proud with their heads held high
I'm gonna ride on the freedom train
I ain't gonna live this way again
I'm gonna get on the freedom train
from this day on I'll be a free man (yes I will I'll be a free man)
Keep on moving, Cast your vote
Tell 'em where to get off ,Keep on Going
We're gonna see the mountains, Keep on going
Gotta get your ticket,The Freedom Train
Deacon Blue's "Freedom Train" is an anthem for the power of the people to stand up for their rights and demand change. The lyrics call for a unifying effort to work towards freedom, as the train is a metaphor for the journey towards a goal, and how everyone must be aboard for it to succeed. The opening lyrics urge the listener to hear the whistle blowing and to get on board the freedom train, signaling that the time for action is now. The following verse emphasizes the need for unity in working towards the collective goal of freedom.
The chorus of the song is a declaration of the singer's intent to ride on the freedom train, to no longer accept their current situation and to be free. The second verse reinforces the theme of change and progression, with the train waiting at the station and the call to ascend to the mountaintop to get on board. The lyrics suggest that the journey will not be easy, but the clear blue sky and the pride that comes with working together will sustain them.
The final verse contains a series of instructions, urging people to keep on moving, vote, tell others where to get off, and continue towards the mountains. The repetition of "keep on going" emphasizes that the journey towards freedom is ongoing and that we must not stop until we arrive. The song ends by reminding the listener to get their ticket on the freedom train.
Line by Line Meaning
The freedom train is coming, can't you hear the whistle blowing
The train of freedom is arriving and its whistle can be heard loud and clear.
Its time get your ticket and get on board
It's time to obtain your ticket and hop on the train.
Its time for all the people to take this freedom ride
It's the right moment for all of us to take the journey towards liberty.
Get it together and work for freedom side by side
Unite and fight for freedom altogether.
I'm gonna ride on the freedom train
I will be boarding the freedom train.
I ain't gonna live this way again
I refuse to live under oppression anymore.
from this day on I'll be a free man (yes I will I'll be a free man)
Starting today, I will enjoy my independence.
Seem like the times are changing people
It feels like the current situation is shifting.
The trains waiting at the station
The train is ready and waiting for the passengers to board.
go on up to the mountain top and get on board
Head to the highest point and embark on the train journey.
Were gonna ride on through the valley
We'll be riding through the valley during the journey.
Under the clear blue sky
We'll be travelling under the sky without any hindrance.
Everybody's gonna stand up proud with their heads held high
Everyone will stand tall with pride and dignity.
Keep on moving, Cast your vote
Keep progressing, cast your valuable vote.
Tell 'em where to get off ,Keep on Going
Let them know to leave you alone and keep moving forward.
We're gonna see the mountains, Keep on going
We'll be witnessing the beauty of the mountains, keep moving ahead.
Gotta get your ticket,The Freedom Train
Don't forget to grab your ticket for the Freedom Train.
Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nigel Smith
on Long Window To Love
This whole explanation is completely wrong. The song is about the Labour Party not winning a general election