The band was dissolved in 1974.
Gravy Train (no exclamation marks) should NOT be mixed up with the band Gravy Train!!!!.
Messenger
Gravy Train Lyrics
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Stop for a moment and lie with me, I pray you'll tarry
Five more young men who'll never be able to marry
How long will this war last before you die too?
Before you die too?
Messenger, see, I am stricken for my body is crying
Help me to rest, I am spent, I can hear my heart sighing
How long will this war last before you die too?
Before you die too?
Messenger, messenger, quickly, I have something for you
Take it away to the men who I first saw you writing to
Their spark will tell the cries left alive then what he will do (?)
So heed ye well, ye men, lest ye all die too
Lest ye all die too
Ahhh...
Ahhh...
The song "Messenger" by Gravy Train is a poignant commentary on the ravages of war. The lyrics are directed towards a messenger who is carrying words of death and destruction from the battlefield. The singer is pleading with the messenger to stop for a moment and lie with him, as he contemplates the futility of war and the senseless loss of life that it brings. He is struck by the fact that there are five more young men who will never be able to marry, a stark reminder of the human cost of war.
The singer is also deeply affected by the toll war has taken on his own body. He is exhausted and spent, and his heart is sighing. He asks the messenger to look upon his face and see the visage of a man who is dying. Through his words, the singer is asking the messenger to convey the sense of urgency and desperation that he feels, to convey the message that war is a destructive force that must be stopped before more lives are lost.
The final stanza of the song is a message that the singer has for the men who the messenger is going to. He urges them to heed him well, lest they too fall victim to the horrors of war. The song ends on a haunting note, with the repetition of the phrase "before you die too." This line serves as a grim reminder that the messenger, and all those he communicates with, are not immune to the dangers of war.
Overall, "Messenger" is a powerful and meaningful song that speaks to the horrors of war and the importance of stopping it before it claims more lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Messenger swift, won't you tell me the words that you carry
Oh, messenger, you move so quickly! What message do you carry for me?
Stop for a moment and lie with me, I pray you'll tarry
Please, take a moment to rest with me. I beg you to stay for a little while.
Five more young men who'll never be able to marry
It's so sad that five more men have died in this war, never to be able to marry and start their own families.
How long will this war last before you die too?, Before you die too?
I fear that this war will never end, and that you too will become a casualty of it.
Messenger, see, I am stricken for my body is crying
I am so overwhelmed and in pain that my body is crying out for rest and relief, dear messenger.
Help me to rest, I am spent, I can hear my heart sighing
Please assist me in finding rest, for I am exhausted and my heart just wants to give up.
Look well upon the face of a man who is dying
Please take a moment to really see me, to look into my face and understand that I am dying here.
Messenger, messenger, quickly, I have something for you
Messenger, hurry! I have something important that I need you to take to the men who you were writing to before.
Take it away to the men who I first saw you writing to
Please make sure that the message I have for them gets to them as soon as possible.
Their spark will tell the cries left alive then what he will do (?)
The message will ignite a fire within those still alive, and they will know what to do next.
So heed ye well, ye men, lest ye all die too, Lest ye all die too
Please, men, listen carefully to the message and take it to heart, or else you too will end up dying in this war.
Ahhh...
Ahhh...
Contributed by Brooklyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mike Hodgkison
Mike Hodgkison - There were a few errors on the lyrics sites for this song. I love the band and have been correcting the errors.
The Lyrics are
Messenger swift, won't you tell me the words that you carry
Stop for a moment and lie with me, I pray you'll tarry
Five more young men who'll never be able to marry
How long will this war last before you die too?
Before you die too?
Messenger, see, I am stricken, my body is crying
Help me to rest, I am spent, I can hear my heart sighing
Look well upon the face of a man who is dying
How long will this war last before you die too?
Before you die too?
Messenger, messenger, quickly, I have something for you
Take it away to the men who I first saw you riding to
This book will tell that Christ is alive and what he will do
So heed ye well, ye men, lest ye all die too
Lest ye all die too
Ahhh...
Ahhh...
The rest of the album is great as well. I have the vinyl and the CD.
Ilan Lilo
Oh my god!!!this song is simply amazing
jacques laurencot
Amazing Brilliance.... REAL QUALITY ROCK N ROLL... with TRUE Lyrics,Music that has Uniqueness. All these Sounds is What Instruments Do... Today . they push a button... then thats there music. Gravy Train,Beggars Opera,Atomic Rooster,Lava,Bakerloo,Hawkwind,Amon Duul II,CAN. to name Just a Few...
TheWattfour
My favourite Gravy Train track. Such an underrated band. Great mellotron. Norman Barrett went on to Christian bands after Gravy Train and I suppose you could hear it in this track.
Jakimo61
Ponad 40 lat ma piosenka, a jeszcze mi się nie znudziła i chyba będę wracać do niej zawsze. Przepiękna
Mari Radnai
Szia! :) Örülök, és köszönöm! A hangszerelés, a fuvola és a többi hangszer csodás összhangja, Norman Barratt fantasztikus hangja, szóval szerintem is tökéletes.
Mike Hodgkison
Mike Hodgkison - There were a few errors on the lyrics sites for this song. I love the band and have been correcting the errors.
The Lyrics are
Messenger swift, won't you tell me the words that you carry
Stop for a moment and lie with me, I pray you'll tarry
Five more young men who'll never be able to marry
How long will this war last before you die too?
Before you die too?
Messenger, see, I am stricken, my body is crying
Help me to rest, I am spent, I can hear my heart sighing
Look well upon the face of a man who is dying
How long will this war last before you die too?
Before you die too?
Messenger, messenger, quickly, I have something for you
Take it away to the men who I first saw you riding to
This book will tell that Christ is alive and what he will do
So heed ye well, ye men, lest ye all die too
Lest ye all die too
Ahhh...
Ahhh...
The rest of the album is great as well. I have the vinyl and the CD.
SweetSmoke21
Thanks Mike, I am happy to come here again and find it!!
Psychedelic Owl
Magical Gravy Train!
jacques laurencot
ADDICTED to this Band...
Heartfeeder21
Beautiful, thanks :)