The Train Kept A Rollin'
Johnny Burnette & The Rock 'n' Roll Trio Lyrics


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I caught a train
I met a dame
She was a hepster
And a real gone dame She was pretty
From New York City
And we trucked on down that old fair lane
With a heave and a ho
Well, I just couldn't let her go

Get along, creepy little woman
Get along, well, be on your way
Get along, creepy little woman
Get along, well, be on your way
With a heave and a ho
Well, I just couldn't let her go

Well, the train kept a-rollin all night long
The train kept a-rollin all night long
The train kept me movin' all night long
The train kept a-rollin all night long
With a heave and a ho
Well, I just couldn't let her go

We made a stop in Albuquerque
She must of thought
That I was a real gone jerk
We got off the train at El Paso
Our lovin was so good, Jack
I couldn't let her go
Get along
Well, I just couldn't let her go

Get along, creepy little woman
Get along, well, be on your way
Get along, creepy little woman
Get along, well, be on your way
With a heave and a ho
Well, I just couldn't let her go

The train kept a-rollin all night long
The train kept a-rollin all night long
The train kept her movin' all night long
The train kept a-rollin all night long




With a heave and a ho
Well, I just couldnt let her go-oh-oh

Overall Meaning

"The Train Kept a-Rollin'" is a song by Johnny Burnette, first recorded in 1956. The song is about a guy who catches a train and meets a woman, who is pretty and fashionable. They travel down the old fair way, and he falls in love with her instantly. But as the night progresses, the woman starts showing creepy behavior, and he wants her to stay away. However, he can't resist her seduction, and they both go on a journey together, getting off at El Paso, where their love-making is so good that he can't let her go.


The lyrics of the song can be interpreted as talking about the freedom of youth and the rebelliousness that comes with it. The "hepster and real gone dame" are symbols of the rock n roll culture of the time, which is in opposition to conventional values. The train is seen as a symbol of freedom, the constant movement, and the ability to travel wherever one wants. The song also seems to hint at the fear of women who play games and who can't be predicted.


Line by Line Meaning

I caught a train
I hopped aboard a moving train


I met a dame
I met a woman


She was a hepster
She was a hip and cool woman


And a real gone dame
And a really cool woman


She was pretty
She was attractive


From New York City
From the city of New York


And we trucked on down that old fair lane
And we continued moving down the train tracks


With a heave and a ho
With some effort


Well, I just couldn't let her go
I could not bear to part ways with her


Get along, creepy little woman
Leave, strange woman


Get along, well, be on your way
Leave, go away


Well, the train kept a-rollin all night long
The train kept moving all night long


The train kept me movin' all night long
The train kept me moving all night long


With a heave and a ho
With some effort


We made a stop in Albuquerque
We stopped at Albuquerque


She must of thought
She probably thought


That I was a real gone jerk
That I was a bad and unintelligent person


We got off the train at El Paso
We got off the train at El Paso


Our lovin was so good, Jack
Our relationship was so good, man


I couldn't let her go
I could not bear to part ways with her


The train kept her movin' all night long
The train kept her moving all night long


With a heave and a ho
With some effort


Well, I just couldnt let her go-oh-oh
I just could not bear to part ways with her




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Howie Kay, Lois Mann, Tiny Bradshaw

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@thebadloser

This still sounds wild and unhinged in 2021. Difficult to imagine how far out it must've sounded in 1956. The Trio, to me, are and always will be the absolute epitome of rockabilly.

@roberthathaway6520

I love this type of music

@michaelvolgare4454

Paul Burilson is one of the greatest guitar players of all time!!!!!

@piotrb8434

This stuff rocks hard. I go crazy every time I hear this song.

@markmmv

The wildest song of mid-50s

@petermills542

Reading Jimmy Page's top 5 musicians brought me here!!
Knew Burnette would be special !! 😄

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@sandorfintor

The grandpappie of Heavy Metal. Undoubtedly.

@dspsblyuth

I’m so sick of these high fallooting whippersnappers with their big pants!

@michaelmay5120

That Geritol sign in the background really makes it! This song is a true cure for "iron-poor tired blood!"

@michaellorenzen8200

my thoughts exactly !

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