James became very in demand as a session player and before long he was the most in demand guitarist on the west coast. Johnny Cash asked him to be on a television show called Shindig. Again, James would be on tv every week. His session work allowed him to work with everybody in the business: from Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to Jan and Dean and the Mamas and the Papas.
In 1969, Burton got a call from Elvis Presley. Elvis was going back to performing live and he needed a good band and asked if James would put it together for him and he did. James stayed with Elvis until Elvis' death in 1977. During his time with Elvis, James recorded with Gram Parsons and also toured with Emmylou Harris and part of her Hot Band after Gram's passing.
After Elvis, James worked with John Denver, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others. In 2001, James was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2007 into the Musicians Hall of Fame.
Other notable artists Burton has worked with include Nancy Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Elvis Costello, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, The Monkees, The Everly Brothers and many many others.
Mystery Train
James Burton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Train I ride, sixteen coaches long
Well, that long black train, got my baby and gone
Train, train, comin' round the bend
Train, train, comin' round the bend
Well, it took my baby, but it never will again
No, not again
Train, train, comin' down, down the line
Train, train, comin' down, down the line
Well, it's bringin' my baby, 'cause she's mine, all mine
She's mine, all mine
Train, train, comin' round, round the bend
Round, round the bend
Train, train, comin' round, round the bend
Round, round the bend
Well, it took my baby, but it never will again
Never will again
Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-hoo
"Mystery Train" is a classic blues song performed by James Burton. This song is a heartbreaking tale about a man who has lost his lover to a train, and it never will come back. The lyrics reveal how the singer's baby has been taken away by a train that consists of sixteen long coaches. The first verse of the song sets the tone with the singer lamenting about his partner's departure with the train, and the long black train has taken his baby away. The next verses pick up with the singer's acknowledgment that he will never hold his baby again, as the train coming round the bend took his baby but won't ever again.
The song's theme depicts the sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one, with the train representing death. The train symbolizes an unstoppable force that takes away people's loved ones and how people feel powerless to stop it. Additionally, this song portrays that the singer sees the train as an instrument of fate, which he thinks has cruelly taken his love. The song's emotional tone is enhanced by the mournful harmonica that supports the voice throughout the composition.
Line by Line Meaning
Train I ride, sixteen coaches long
I'm on a train that's extraordinarily long, with sixteen coaches
Well, that long black train, got my baby and gone
My sweetheart was taken away by that extensive black train
Train, train, comin' round the bend
A train is headed my way, lo and behold
Well, it took my baby, but it never will again No, not again
My lover was taken by the previous train, but that will never happen again
Train, train, comin' down, down the line
Another train is approaching, coming down the track
Well, it's bringin' my baby, 'cause she's mine, all mine She's mine, all mine
This train is bringing my sweetheart back to me because she's all mine
Train, train, comin' round, round the bend Round, round the bend
Another train is approaching, coming around the curve
Well, it took my baby, but it never will again Never will again
My lover was taken by the previous train, but that will never happen again
Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-hoo
An exclamation indicating emotional intensity
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HERMAN PARKER JR., SAM PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind