Ken Boothe's (born 1948 in Kingston, Jamaica) is known as "Mr Rocksteady" f… Read Full Bio ↴Ken Boothe's (born 1948 in Kingston, Jamaica) is known as "Mr Rocksteady" for his prominence during the musical period 1966-1974 and was a major idol for the to-be members of UB40. Boothe started by recording a version of Sandie Shaw's "Puppet on a String" in 1967. Later the same year, Boothe and Alton Ellis had a successful U.K. tour with the group The Soul Vendors. Under new direction from record producer Lloyd Chalmers, the song "Everything I Own" surprisingly was Number One in the UK in 1974. The song, written by David Gates, was given a sympathetic light reggae feel and found instant favour in the West Indies and in the U.K.

Boothe seemed, at the time, to have the makings of an international, long-lasting, hit maker, certainly when compared to most of the other latter-day reggae acts. His smoother style gave him a wider appeal, rather like UB40 and Aswad. Boothe's choice of songs also showed the breadth of his musical taste. But for all that, he only managed one more hit in the UK Chart, "Crying over You", which made Number 11.

In more recent times, Boothe has also recorded for Bunny Lee, Phil Pratt, King Jammy, Pete Weston, Jack Ruby, Hugh "Red Man" James, Castro Brown, and Tappa Zukie. Plus in 1995, he teamed up with Shaggy, for a new styled version of his old track, "The Train Is Coming", which appeared on the soundtrack of the film, Money Train.

A double-disc overview of Boothe's Trojan years, Crying over You, was released by the label in 2001.

Boothe's official Web site is at www.kenboothemusic.com

The Great Ken Boothe Medley Pt.1
Ken Boothe Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Chorus
Say the train is coming baby
Say the train is coming now
Say the train is coming baby
say the train is coming now
1. So long I've been waiting, waiting for you, oh lord
Now the time has come, when it's between me and you oh lord
Because the train is coming baby

And we are leaving on that train
And we will roam this land
Where we all will be free lord
2. I'm gonna tell you good bye babe
And I don't want to see you cry babe
I'm leaving you behind
But it's just for a time
3. It's not my wish that we should part
Don't worry baby I won't break your heart
I'm going to a far away land
I'm going to make life for me and you please understand cause
4. Yesterday I walked away, leaving a girl behind me
Now today I hoped and pray, that she was here to guide me
The girl I left behind me
The girl I left behind me

To love and cherish
Love and comfort me, me

Overall Meaning

The chorus of Ken Boothe's "The Great Ken Boothe Medley Pt.1" is a repeated call for the train to arrive, indicating that it is time to leave. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and excitement at the prospect of leaving behind the old and starting anew. The first verse expresses a feeling of readiness to embark on a journey that leads to freedom, peace, and personal fulfillment. The second verse suggests that saying goodbye is never easy, but encourages the person left behind to be strong and hopeful in the face of separation. The third verse assures the loved one that the intention is to make a better life for both of them and not to hurt them, and in the fourth verse, the singer expresses a nostalgic longing for a former love.

Overall, the song is about making a decision to leave one's past behind and embark on a journey towards a better future. At the same time, it acknowledges the pain and sadness involved in leaving loved ones behind. The song's message is timeless and universal – it celebrates the transformative power of change, the importance of following one's dreams, and the difficulty of saying goodbye.

Line by Line Meaning

Say the train is coming baby
The singer is getting ready to go on a journey, and they want their loved one to acknowledge that the train is arriving soon.

Say the train is coming now
The singer reiterates their desire for their loved one to acknowledge the impending arrival of the train.

Say the train is coming baby
The singer again reminds their loved one that the train is on its way.

Say the train is coming now
The artist repeats their urgency for their loved one to acknowledge the imminent arrival of the train.

So long I've been waiting, waiting for you, oh lord
The artist has been in a state of anticipation for a long time, waiting for their loved one to join them on their journey.

Now the time has come, when it's between me and you oh lord
The moment has finally arrived for the singer and their loved one to embark on their journey together.

Because the train is coming baby
The arrival of the train is the catalyst for the singer and their loved one to leave on their journey.

And we are leaving on that train
The artist and their loved one are going to leave on the train that has just arrived.

And we will roam this land
The artist and their loved one will travel and explore the country together.

Where we all will be free lord
The artist envisions a journey where they and their loved one will have the freedom to live their lives on their own terms.

I'm gonna tell you good bye babe
The singer is saying farewell to their loved one.

And I don't want to see you cry babe
The artist wants to reassure their loved one that they don't want to see them upset about their departure.

I'm leaving you behind
The singer is leaving their loved one behind for the time being.

But it's just for a time
The singer emphasizes that their departure is only temporary.

It's not my wish that we should part
The singer doesn't want to separate from their loved one, but feels they must in order to pursue a better life for the both of them.

Don't worry baby I won't break your heart
The artist wants to assure their loved one that they won't do anything to hurt or betray them.

I'm going to a far away land
The artist is going on a journey to a distant place.

I'm going to make life for me and you please understand cause
The singer's purpose for going on this journey is to create a better life for both themselves and their loved one.

Yesterday I walked away, leaving a girl behind me
The singer left someone behind in the past, possibly a previous lover.

Now today I hoped and pray, that she was here to guide me
The artist is reflecting on their past and wishing they had someone to guide them on their journey.

The girl I left behind me
The artist is reminiscing about the person they had to leave behind in the past.

The girl I left behind me
The artist repeats their thoughts about the person they left behind in the past.

To love and cherish
The singer had a deep connection with the person they left behind in the past.

Love and comfort me, me
The artist longs for the love and comfort of the person they left behind, even as they embark on their journey with their current loved one.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: H, Seaton, Boothe, K, Anderson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS