Many of the Lost Dogs albums include at least one or two cover songs. Songs covered by the Lost Dogs include Bob Dylan's "Lord, Protect My Child," Leonard Cohen's "If It Be Your Will," The Beatles' "I'm A Loser," and Stephen Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More." They have also recorded a number of Traditional or Gospel standards such as "Dust On The Bible," and "Farther Along."
In March, 2000, shortly after the release of their Gift Horse album, Gene Eugene died in his sleep at The Green Room, his recording studio in Huntington Beach, California.
2003 saw the release of the band's first DVD, Via Chicago, a black and white concert film released by Lo-Fidelity Records. A follow-up DVD, Via Chicago (All We Left Unsaid), containing additional songs from the concert, was released in 2006.
Although the loss of Eugene is noticeable, the remaining three Lost Dogs members continue to tour and record new albums. In 2004, the band got together with longtime friend Steve Hindalong to produce a special album for their summer tour. The result was entitled Mutt, and included new acoustic versions of nine songs originally written and recorded for each band member's regular rock bands, with one new song. The following year, the band would release one of their most unusual recordings to date, the almost entirely instrumental Island Dreams.
The band's most recent project, Old Angel, was released May 2010. The band — including the newest official "dog," drummer Steve Hindalong — once again hit the road for a national tour in support of their new album.
Ghost Train To Nowhere
Lost Dogs Lyrics
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Calling All aboard you fools and hard-hearted
Ever circling back on a one way track
They pull into the station where they started
Some arriving when they think they've just departed
But they're not going anywhere
Lost souls when they've landed there choose to stay like prisoners unguarded
All hope is abandoned here 'cause they know the engineer
They pass a thousand concrete pillars and never see a single tree
Grey sky eyes begging for a little sleep
Down the same dark tunnels past the same empty streets
The cigarette smoke chokes, the coffee's weak
And they cry oh...
It's a funeral pyre belching smoke and fire
All luxeries, amenities discarded
It circles back on a one way track
Pulling into the station where where it started
Ghost Train to Nowhere...
They search eternal winter landscapes
For images of loved ones and home
Though every seat and aisle is crowded
They have never felt so all alone
While suffering is assured and silence is preferred
Most everybody weeps though they don't speak a word
They just cry oh...
They sigh...o-o-h-h...
It's a sinners dream when the whistle screams
Calling All aboard you fools and hard-hearted
Ever circling back on a one way track
They pull into the station where they started
Some arriving when they think they've just departed
But they're not going anywhere
Lost souls when they've landed there choose to stay like prisoners unguarded
All hope is abandoned here 'cause they know the engineer
Ghost Train to Nowhere...
The Lost Dogs's song "Ghost Train To Nowhere" is a haunting ballad that uses the metaphor of a ghost train to describe the feeling of being stuck in a life of sin and despair that is going nowhere. The lyrics focus on the passengers of the train, who are all lost souls looking for meaning and purpose in their lives but are unable to find it. The opening line sets the tone for the rest of the song, describing the whistle of the train as a sinner's dream, which is both inviting and dangerous at the same time.
The train is described as circling back on a one-way track, indicating that there is no escape from the life of sin and despair that the passengers find themselves in. The imagery of concrete pillars and grey skies emphasizes the feeling of being trapped in a cold and lifeless environment. The passengers are described as crying and sighing, but there is little communication or connection between them, as they are all lost in their own despair.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Ghost Train to Nowhere," which serves as a reminder that the passengers are not actually going anywhere, but are instead stuck in a perpetual cycle of hopelessness. The song's final lines emphasize this sense of hopelessness, as the passengers are described as being like prisoners who have given up all hope of escape. The ghost train becomes a metaphor for the futility of a life lived without purpose or meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a sinners dream when the whistle screams
The train's whistle is a symbol of danger and fear for those who board this ghost train. For sinners, the dream of redemption or escape from their past mistakes brings them to this train, where they are unaware of the impending doom that awaits them.
Calling All aboard you fools and hard-hearted
The conductor's call to board the train is an invitation to anyone who is foolish enough to think that they can escape their past through this ghost train. People with hard hearts might think that they can withstand the journey, but in reality, they are just putting themselves at risk.
Ever circling back on a one way track
The ghost train is stuck in a perpetual loop, always returning to the same starting point, with no way out for its passengers. They are doomed to relive the same journey over and over again, never moving forward or finding a way to escape.
They pull into the station where they started
The train's never-ending circle brings its passengers back to their starting point, a haunting reminder of their fate. They are unable to break free from the cycle and find themselves stuck in this purgatory-like state.
Some arriving when they think they've just departed
Passengers may be unaware that they have entered into the realm of the ghost train, often arriving here when they least expect it. They might think they have departed from their previous life or past, but in reality, they are just beginning a new cycle of suffering.
But they're not going anywhere
The passengers of the ghost train may feel like they are moving, but in reality, they are trapped in this unending cycle of pain and suffering. There is no escape or resolution to their problems, just an endless journey towards nowhere.
Lost souls when they've landed there choose to stay like prisoners unguarded
People who find themselves on the ghost train may feel lost or hopeless. Instead of trying to fight their way out or find a way to escape, they choose to stay on the train, resigned to their fate. They are like prisoners without guards, staying inside their own confinement.
All hope is abandoned here 'cause they know the engineer
The passengers of the ghost train know that the engineer is in control of their fate, and this leads them to abandon all hope. They realize that they are not in control of their own lives and that there is no way out of this cycle of pain and suffering.
They pass a thousand concrete pillars and never see a single tree
The journey on the train is bleak and desolate, with no signs of life or beauty. The passengers pass a thousand concrete pillars which represent their own lives filled with struggles and obstacles, but there is no hope for growth or change. There is no sign of a single tree, which represents life and vitality.
Grey sky eyes begging for a little sleep
The passengers on the train are exhausted and yearn for rest, but they can't find it on this ghost train. They look up at the grey sky, which reflects their lack of hope and happiness. Their tired, sleepless eyes represent their state of restlessness and despair.
Down the same dark tunnels past the same empty streets
The journey on the ghost train is monotonous and repetitive, with the same dark tunnels and empty streets passing by again and again. The passengers can't find a way off this path, no matter how long they ride the train.
The cigarette smoke chokes, the coffee's weak
The train journey is unpleasant and uncomfortable, with cigarette smoke polluting the air and weak coffee doing nothing to improve the atmosphere. The passengers can't find any solace or comfort on this train.
They cry oh...
The passengers on the ghost train are overwhelmed with sadness and despair, and they can't help but cry. They know that there is no way out of their situation, and they are trapped in a world of pain and suffering.
It's a funeral pyre belching smoke and fire
The ghost train is like a cremation ground, with smoke and fire belching out of it like a funeral pyre. The passengers are metaphorically burning in the flames of their own problems and past mistakes, with no chance of redemption or escape.
All luxeries, amenities discarded
The passengers of the ghost train have no luxuries or amenities to make their journey more comfortable. They are stripped of all the things that once gave them comfort and stability, left with nothing but the unending pain of the journey.
It circles back on a one way track
The ghost train circles back on itself, with no possibility of escape or progress. The passengers are trapped in this cycle of pain and suffering, always moving but never truly going anywhere.
Pulling into the station where where it started
The ghost train always returns to the station where it began, no matter how far it seems to travel. The passengers are trapped in a purgatory-like state, with no hope for change or freedom from their torment.
Ghost Train to Nowhere...
The ghost train is a journey to nowhere, with no end in sight for its passengers. They are trapped in an unending cycle of pain and suffering, with no hope for escape or redemption. Ghost Train to Nowhere is a metaphor for the unrelenting nature of their struggle.
Contributed by Christian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.