Iron Lion
Fairport Convention Lyrics


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(Trevor Lucas)
Now I've been an engine driver all of my days
That's the only thing I can do
I hold a good head of steam everywhere that I'm seen
Wherever my wheels rolled through
Wherever my wheels rolled through
Well, I was nearly shut down in a Midwest town
Her hair was red, her eyes were blue
But the wheels on the track kept calling me back
So I bid that girl adieu
Yes, I bid that girl adieu
Blow whistle, steel wheels keep on humming
Hold on darling your engine driver's coming
He's coming through
Some day I'll have to give up the iron line
And then I'll know just what I will find
I'll find me some shack by some old railroad track
So I can hear them motors whine
So I can hear them motors whine
Blow whistle, hear them steel rails humming
Hold on darling your engineer is coming
He's coming through
Now I've been an engine driver all of my days
That's the only thing I can do
I hold a good head of steam anywhere that I'm seen
Anywhere my trains rolled through
Anywhere my trains rolled through
Blow whistle, hear that steel rail humming




Hold on girl your engine driver's coming
Coming to you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fairport Convention's song "Iron Lion," written by Trevor Lucas, tell the story of a lifelong engine driver. The singer expresses his love for his job, and how it's the only thing he knows how to do. He takes pride in his work and his ability to "hold a good head of steam" wherever he goes. The singer recounts a moment where he was almost derailed when he met a girl with "red hair" and "blue eyes" in a midwest town. However, the wheels kept calling him back to his job, and he had to bid the girl farewell. The song ends with him looking towards the future, imagining a time when he can retire and live near railroad tracks to listen to the engines whine.


The song's lyrics express a love for the railway and the unique sense of freedom that comes with being a lifelong engine driver. The singer's passion for his work is evident in the way he describes the feeling of being on the tracks and the lure they have over him. He's torn between the desire to settle down with the girl he met and the call of the wheels to continue on with his work. The song's lyrics suggest that the singer's passion for his job is so strong that he will likely never be able to let it go completely, even when he retires.


Line by Line Meaning

Now I've been an engine driver all of my days
I have spent my entire life working as a train driver


That's the only thing I can do
Being a train driver is the only skill I possess


I hold a good head of steam everywhere that I'm seen
I am always ready and capable of driving trains with great energy and enthusiasm


Wherever my wheels rolled through
Everywhere I have driven a train


Well, I was nearly shut down in a Midwest town
I almost gave up being a train driver in a town in the Midwest


Her hair was red, her eyes were blue
I met a girl with red hair and blue eyes


But the wheels on the track kept calling me back
I couldn't resist the lure of driving trains again


So I bid that girl adieu
I said goodbye to the girl and went back to being a train driver


Blow whistle, steel wheels keep on humming
The sound of the train whistle and the steel wheels rolling is constant and reassuring


Hold on darling your engine driver's coming
I am on my way to you, my love


He's coming through
I am arriving soon


Some day I'll have to give up the iron line
One day, I will have to retire from being a train driver


And then I'll know just what I will find
When I retire, I will finally know what my future holds


I'll find me some shack by some old railroad track
I will likely retire near an old railroad track and live in a small shack


So I can hear them motors whine
I want to be close enough to hear the sound of trains passing by


Blow whistle, hear them steel rails humming
The sound of the train whistle and the steel rails is still present in my memory


Hold on darling your engineer is coming
I am still on my way, my love


Now I've been an engine driver all of my days
I have spent my entire life working as a train driver


That's the only thing I can do
Being a train driver is the only skill I possess


I hold a good head of steam anywhere that I'm seen
I am always ready and capable of driving trains with great energy and enthusiasm


Anywhere my trains rolled through
Everywhere I have driven a train


Blow whistle, hear that steel rail humming
The sound of the train whistle and the steel rails is still present in my memory


Hold on girl your engine driver's coming
I am on my way to you, my love


Coming to you
I am approaching my destination




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Ronno


on Book Song

Beautiful song, even if I can't understand what's going on: she's reading a book, he's writing one (and playing) .. I wanted it to be abouth former FC singer Judy Dyble , who would knit on stage if she wasn't singing. The girlfriend theory makes some sense, but if Ian said it was about his daughter...

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