Mystery Train
Fairground Attraction Eddi Reader Lyrics
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Whoo-ooh train arrive, sixty minutes gone
Well I ain't seen my baby, he's been gone so long
Mmmm-hmmm going down the track
Freight train going down the track
Oh bring back my baby, he ain't coming back
Train arrive, sixty minutes gone
Whoo-ooh train arrive, sixty minutes gone
Freight train going down the track
Mmm, freight train going down the track
Oh, bring back my baby, he ain't coming back
The lyrics of Fairground Attraction Eddi Reader's song Mystery Train are reminiscent of a traditional blues song, with a repeated refrain expressing the singer's longing for their lost love to return. The imagery of the train is used to convey the passage of time, with the arrival and departure of the train marking out a specific period of time, in this case sixty minutes. The singer expresses their desperation at the absence of their lover, suggesting they have been gone for a considerable length of time. The repetition of the refrain 'bring back my baby, he ain't coming back' highlights the futility of the singer's desire, and the despair that comes with not being able to reunite with the person they love.
The use of the train as a metaphor for the passage of time is a common theme in blues and country music, and it is used to great effect in Mystery Train. The train is often used to symbolize the inevitability of change, the fleeting nature of life, and the sense of loss that comes with the passing of time. The repeated use of the phrase 'sixty minutes gone' reinforces the sense of time slipping away, and the inevitability of the singer's loss.
In conclusion, Mystery Train is a poignant and powerful song that conveys the pain of lost love through the use of poetic imagery and repetition. The lyrics are simple yet evocative, and the use of the train metaphor creates a sense of time passing that is both poignant and heartbreaking.
Line by Line Meaning
Train arrive, sixty minutes gone
The singer is noting the arrival of the train, which is sixty minutes late
Whoo-ooh train arrive, sixty minutes gone
The singer is expressing a sense of relief that the train has finally arrived despite being an hour late
Well I ain't seen my baby, he's been gone so long
The singer laments that they haven't seen their partner in a while and misses them greatly
Mmmm-hmmm going down the track
The artist acknowledges that the train is moving along the tracks
Freight train going down the track
The artist notes that the train passing by is a cargo train
Oh bring back my baby, he ain't coming back
The singer hopes that their partner will return to them, but they believe it's unlikely given the circumstances
Train arrive, sixty minutes gone
The singer is again acknowledging the arrival of the train, despite its delay
Whoo-ooh train arrive, sixty minutes gone
The artist is expressing their relief at the train finally arriving, which emphasizes how important their partner's return is to them
Oh bring back my baby, he's been gone so long
The artist is again expressing their desire for their partner to return after being apart for a long time
Freight train going down the track
The artist notes the passing of another cargo train
Mmm, freight train going down the track
The singer is continuing to acknowledge the presence of the cargo train
Oh, bring back my baby, he ain't coming back
The artist's repetition of this line reinforces how much they long for their partner's return, even if they know it's not likely
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HERMAN PARKER JR., SAM PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind