Travellin' Band
Elton John Lyrics


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737 coming out of the sky
Won't you take me down
To Memphis on a midnight ride?

I want to move, yeah
Playing in a travellin' band, yeah
Well, I'm flying across the land
Trying to get a hand
Playing in a travellin' band

Take me to the hotel
Baggage gone, oh well
Come on, come on
Won't you get me to the room?

I want to move, yeah
Playing in a travellin' band, yeah
Well, I'm flying across the land
Trying to get a hand
Playing in a travellin' band

Listen to the radio
Talking about the last show
Someone got excited
Had to call the state militia

I want to move, yeah
Playing in a travellin' band, yeah
Well, I'm flying across the land
Trying to get a hand
Playing in a travellin' band

Here we come again on a Saturday night
With your fussing and your fighting
Won't you get me to the right

I want to move, yeah
Playing in a travellin' band, yeah
Well, I'm flying across the land
Trying to get a hand
Playing in a travellin' band

Well, I'm playing in a travellin' band
Playing in a travellin' band
Playing in a travellin' band

Well, I'm playing in a travellin' band
Well, I'm flying across the land




Trying to get a hand
Playing in a travellin' band

Overall Meaning

In Elton John's song "Travellin' Band," the lyrics depict the life of a musician who travels around the country, playing gigs in different cities. The song begins with the singer describing a plane flying overhead, and he asks to be taken to Memphis on a "midnight ride." He then talks about playing in a "travellin' band" and trying to get a hand, which presumably means trying to make a living as a musician on the road.


In the second verse, the singer talks about arriving at a hotel and losing his luggage, but he still wants to move on to the next gig. He mentions listening to the radio and hearing about the "last show" and someone getting excited, which resulted in the state militia being called. The third verse talks about the band performing on a Saturday night and dealing with fighting and fussing, but they still want to make it to the next show and keep playing in their "travellin' band."


Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of the difficult and sometimes chaotic life of a touring musician, always on the move and trying to make a living through their art.


Line by Line Meaning

737 coming out of the sky
The singer is waiting for a flight to Memphis, TN and sees a plane landing.


Won't you take me down
The singer is asking someone to help him get to Memphis.


To Memphis on a midnight ride?
The singer wants to arrive in Memphis at night.


I want to move, yeah
The singer wants to be on the move and not stay in one place for too long.


Playing in a travellin' band, yeah
The singer is part of a band that travels from place to place to perform.


Well, I'm flying across the land
The singer is traveling long distances by plane to perform with his band.


Trying to get a hand
The singer is hoping to gain some success or recognition through his band's performances.


Take me to the hotel
The singer wants to be taken to the hotel where he will stay while in Memphis.


Baggage gone, oh well
The singer's luggage may have been lost or delayed, but he is not too concerned about it.


Come on, come on
The singer is urging the person he is with to move quickly.


Won't you get me to the room?
The singer wants to be taken to his hotel room.


Listen to the radio
The singer is tuning in to some local radio stations while in Memphis.


Talking about the last show
The radio is discussing the band's previous performance in Memphis.


Someone got excited
Someone at the last show was very enthusiastic about the band's performance.


Had to call the state militia
The excitement at the last show was so intense that authorities had to be called to calm things down.


Here we come again on a Saturday night
The band is performing again on a Saturday night in Memphis.


With your fussing and your fighting
The singer is alluding to the potential for conflict or drama at the show.


Won't you get me to the right
The singer wants to be taken to the appropriate location for his performance.


Well, I'm playing in a travellin' band
The singer is performing as part of a band that travels to different locations.


Well, I'm flying across the land
The singer is traveling great distances to perform with his band.


Trying to get a hand
The singer is hoping to achieve some degree of success or recognition through his band's performances.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: John Cameron Fogerty

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Milk Shake and Chips

melhor versão

itcameoutofthesky

"Travelin' Band" wasn't even officially released in 1969 !

Tom Radigan

No but it was recorded in England and it’s possible Dick James Music got a copy of it before it was released considering CCR was the hottest thing it makes sense if it was requested of Elton to do some covers he does that.

Fernando Nova Rosas

No la conocia

S2000magician

I love Elton John.


But he ain't no John Fogerty.

_cloudiiskxy_

S2000magician John has such a unique style it’s so difficult to copy.

TheWanderingBard

S2000magician you’re right, Elton’s 1000000x better

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