How Long Has the Evening Train Been Gone
Diana Ross Lyrics

How long has that evening train been gone (whoa whoa)
Asking how long it has been since the train left, leaving the singer worried about her lover

I wanna know
Expressing the singer's strong desire to find out what happened to her lover who left on that train

I have a babe that was standing at the station
Referring to the singer's lover waiting for the train at the station

Waiting for a train
Describing the lover's action of waiting for his train departure

I ran to the door with my heart in my hand (heart in my hand)
The artist's action of rushing to the door and feeling anxious while holding her heart

And all my future plans (future plans)
Alluding to the singer's dreams and ambitions for her future with her lover

I've gotta catch him if I can
Expressing the singer's determination to catch up with her lover

Is that express, Mr. Station-Man?
Asking the train station attendant if the train that left was an express one

I woke up this morning with a smile on my face
Starting the day feeling happy and contented

Feeling that the world, the world was a beautiful place
Expressing the artist's positive perception of the world and her surroundings

On a scrap of paper
Describing where the train-arriving information was written on

Was the train-arriving information
Referring to a note containing information about the train's arrival at the station

His room was empty and his closet's bare (closet's bare)
Describing how the lover's room and closet were emptied and lacking in clothes

And not a single shirt was hanging there (hanging there)
Highlighting how the lover didn't leave a single shirt in the closet

How could the guy just up and leave me?
Expressing the singer's shock and confusion about her lover's sudden departure

What did I do that was so displeasing?
Questioning herself if she had done anything to cause her lover's departure

Only yesterday, he held me tight
Describing how her lover held her in his arms the day before he left

He told me everything, everything's gonna be alright
Reminiscing how her lover reassured her that everything will be alright

Oh, he said he loved me and he cried
Remembering how her lover expressed his love and sadness before leaving

Oh yeah, he said he loved me and he cried
Reiterating her lover's expression of love and sadness before leaving

Oh yes, he did now
Affirming her lover's expression of love and sadness before leaving

There must be an explanation
Expressing the belief that there must be a reason behind her lover's sudden departure

Come on and move out the station
Encouraging the train to move out of the station so that she can pursue her lover

Can't ya see that he's taking my world
Conveying how the artist's lover is taking away her world through his actions

And making me a sad, sad girl?
Expressing the deep sadness the singer feels due to her lover's departure

That's why I can't let go
Expressing the singer's inability to let go of her lover

That's why I gotta know
Reiterating the singer's strong desire to find out what happened to her lover who left on that evening train