In 1976 at the age of 17 she became one of the founding members of the legendary teenage all-female hard rock band The Runaways. There she played lead guitar.
After the group folded in 1979, she began a solo career. Her guitar playing was well respected amongst her peers, both when she was a member of The Runaways and as a solo act. When she had the material to back her up, Ford was inarguably capable of rocking out aggressively and assertively, and more times than not, better than the best of her male counterparts. Her first two albums, Out for Blood and Dancin' on the Edge were relatively successful, and in 1985, Ford was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance for "Gotta Let Go", along with Wendy O. Williams and Pia Zadora. However the musical genre of "arena metal rock" had already crested and was now beginning its decline in the second half of the 1980s.
Nothing was heard from Ford for the next four years; a follow-up to Dancin' on the Edge, titled The Bride Wore Black, was abandoned and never released, as Ford switched from Mercury Records to RCA Records. By the time Ford returned again, the lighter pop-metal she had long favored had broken through to mainstream audiences, which set the stage for her most commercially successful album, 1988's Lita. With Sharon Osbourne as her manager, and slickly produced by Mike Chapman, the album featured Ford's first commercial hit, the #12 "Kiss Me Deadly". Its follow-up ballad, a duet with Ozzy Osbourne entitled "Close My Eyes Forever", provided both artists with their first Top Ten single.
Lita Ford is back with a vengeance! Her new album Wicked Wonderland is due for release October 6th 2009. More information can be found on her My Space profile: Lita Ford Official My Space Profile
Hellbound Train
Lita Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crashin' through my veins
And I ain't bound for glory
There's a devil in my brain
Got a fistful of whiskey, a suitcase full of sin
An' there's a thousand nasty habits
Underneath my skin
Comin' down hard, only yourself to blame
Playin' so tough in a deadly game
Ain't that a shame
Goin' down tonight on a Hellbound train
Goin' down tonight on a Hellbound train
I'm a speed demon baby, movin' way too fast
You put a dagger through my soul
But you'll never kick my ass, oh, no
We can fly on the wings of the flames
Comin' down hard, only yourself to blame
Playin' so tough in a deadly game
Ain't that a shame
Goin' down tonight on a Hellbound train
Goin' down tonight on a Hellbound train
Goin' down tonight, I'm Hellbound
Ain't good for nothin', nothin's what I crave
I'm your Angel of Darkness
And I'll see you in Hell one day
We can fly on the wings of the flames
Comin' down hard, only yourself to blame
Playin' so tough in a deadly game
Ain't that a shame
Goin' down tonight on a Hellbound train
Goin' down tonight on a Hellbound train
Goin' down tonight, I'm Hellbound
On a Hellbound train
Lita Ford's "Hellbound Train" is an energizing rock song that reflects on a life of bad luck and trouble, fueled by whiskey and a thousand nasty habits. The lyrics depict a dark, devilish side of life that leads to a fiery descent into hell, riding on a "Hellbound Train." The devil's influence is impossible to resist, and the singer is destined to meet the same fate as the Angel of Darkness. The singer sees no way out of this life of vices and recklessness, and the refrain "Goin' down tonight on a Hellbound train" reinforces the inevitability of this downward spiral.
The song captures the angst and energy of a dangerous lifestyle, where consequences are ignored and pleasure is sought at all costs. The reference to "wings of the flames" and "Hellbound train" adds a supernatural dimension to the lyrics, underscoring the powerful allure of temptation and risky behavior. The repetition of the phrase "Ain't that a shame" acknowledges the self-destructive nature of this lifestyle, as the singer seems to have accepted their fate as inevitable.
Overall, "Hellbound Train" is a powerful rock anthem that conveys the dark side of human nature, and the destructive power of temptation and vice.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad luck and trouble
My life is filled with misfortune and problems.
Crashin' through my veins
I am overwhelmed and consumed by my troubles.
And I ain't bound for glory
My future is bleak and uncertain.
There's a devil in my brain
I am tormented by negative thoughts and impulses.
Got a fistful of whiskey, a suitcase full of sin
I have turned to alcohol and immoral behavior to escape my problems.
An' there's a thousand nasty habits
My self-destructive behavior has become ingrained and habitual.
Underneath my skin
My issues are deeply rooted and difficult to overcome.
We can fly on wings of the flames
We are reckless and living dangerously.
Comin' down hard, only yourself to blame
We are aware of the risks and consequences of our actions, yet continue to pursue them.
Playin' so tough in a deadly game
We are pretending to be strong and invincible, but in reality, we are risking our lives and well-being.
Ain't that a shame
It is regrettable that we are acting in such a self-destructive manner.
Goin' down tonight on a Hellbound train
We are headed towards a life of misery and destruction.
I'm a speed demon baby, movin' way too fast
I am living recklessly and dangerously while ignoring the consequences.
You put a dagger through my soul
You have caused me great pain and emotional distress.
But you'll never kick my ass, oh, no
I am determined to resist and fight back against those who have hurt me.
Ain't good for nothin', nothin's what I crave
I have lost sight of what is truly important and am consumed by my self-destructive behavior.
I'm your Angel of Darkness
I am someone who has embraced the negative aspects of life and am leading others down a dangerous path.
And I'll see you in Hell one day
I will likely continue down my path of destruction and will suffer the consequences in the afterlife.
On a Hellbound train
I am headed towards a life of misery and destruction, with little hope for a better future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID LAWRENCE EZRIN, KEVIN SAVIGAR, LITA ROSSANA FORD, MICHAEL DAN EHMIG, MYRON GROMBACHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind