On "Compass & Companion", Mark partnered with Kelly Willis for the title song.
He regularly tours in support of Kris Delmhorst, Lori McKenna and Catie Curtis, playing acoustic and electric guitar.
Mark has worked with producer Lorne Entress exclusively and co-produced "Hillbilly Pilgrim" and "Hope & Other Casualties'.
Night Train
Mark Erelli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long enough to know
where the brakeman disappears
when the whistle blows
And who's gonna make it out all right
when the final night train shows
Ah, babe, it's true,
I've seen a lot of women here waiting just like you
Hear the fireman start singing
the same time every day
The same song about his life
and his well planned getaway
And it's a shame to hear such a pretty voice
with not one thing to say
Ah, babe, it's true, you would have loved him back in time if he'd only sung for you
Moonlight on the water tower
always shines so cold
In the shadow of the pay phone
where the saints are getting bold
And it don't matter to them now
if it's real or just fool's gold
Ah, babe, it's true,
I heard all the saints tonight talking only of you
Listen deep into the night, girl
Can you hear the whistle blow?
Looks like you're gonna make it out all right
but there's one thing you must know:
The only ones who can help you now
are the ones who must stay here when you go
Ah babe, it's true,
I've seen a lot of women here smiling just like you
And there are some saints still in hiding
by the river in the reeds
And they're turning down every train
that don't feel the right speed
Sing them this song when you pass by;
it'll be your last good deed
Ah babe, it's true,
the saints are down every line waiting just for you
The lyrics to Mark Erelli’s song “Night Train” come to life through vivid description and emotion-filled images. The song tells the story of a train station and all of the people who pass through it. The singer has been “hanging around this station” long enough to observe some recurring themes. He has watched women come and go, waiting for their loved ones. He watches the brakeman disappear as the final night train approaches, wondering who will make it out all right. You get the sense that he has seen it all.
The singer then shifts his focus to the fireman who sings “the same song about his life and his well-planned getaway.” The song is a beautiful one, but it carries little worth as the fireman sings it every day with no intent to do anything. The singer feels sad for the wasted talent of this singer. As the night deepens, he paints a stunning picture of a moonlit water tower, casting a cold shadow over the payphone where “the saints are getting bold.” He finishes the song by saying the only ones that can help the woman are the “saints still in hiding by the river in the reeds,” then ominously reminds the listener that “the saints are down every line waiting just for you.”
Line by Line Meaning
I've been hanging around this station
I've been present at this station for a long time
Long enough to know
Long enough to have gained knowledge
where the brakeman disappears
where the brakeman goes to when he leaves
when the whistle blows
when the train's whistle sounds
And who's gonna make it out all right
And who will survive and be okay
when the final night train shows
when the last train arrives
Ah, babe, it's true,
Oh, dear, what I'm about to say is accurate and factual,
I've seen a lot of women here waiting just like you
I have observed many ladies like you waiting here
Hear the fireman start singing
Listen to the fireman begin to sing
the same time every day
at the same time each day
The same song about his life
The same song about his existence
and his well planned getaway
and his meticulously planned escape
And it's a shame to hear such a pretty voice
It's a pity to hear such a lovely voice
with not one thing to say
with nothing to communicate
Ah, babe, it's true, you would have loved him back in time if he'd only sung for you
Oh, darling, if he had only sung for you earlier, you would have loved him
Moonlight on the water tower
Light from the moon on top of the water tower
always shines so cold
is always cold and uninviting
In the shadow of the payphone
In the shade of the telephone used to pay
where the saints are getting bold
where the holy ones become daring
And it don't matter to them now
And it no longer concerns them now
if it's real or just fools gold
whether it's genuine or fake gold doesn't matter to them
Ah, babe, it's true,
Oh, darling, what I'm about to say is the truth
I heard all the saints tonight talking only of you
I heard all the saints mentioning only you yesterday night
Listen deep into the night, girl
Listen closely through the night, girl
Can you hear the whistle blow?
Can you hear the train whistle?
Looks like you're gonna make it out all right
It appears you'll be fine
but there's one thing you must know:
but there's something you must be aware of:
The only ones who can help you now
The only ones who can assist you now
are the ones who must stay here when you go
are the people who will remain after you depart
Ah babe, it's true,
Oh, dear, what I'm about to say is factual
I've seen a lot of women here smiling just like you
I have seen numerous women here who were just as pleased as you
And there are some saints still in hiding
Furthermore, there are still some holy persons concealing themselves
by the river in the reeds
near the river in the reeds
And they're turning down every train
And they're rejecting every train
that don't feel the right speed
that doesn't feel like the proper speed
Sing them this song when you pass by;
Sing them this tune when you pass by;
it'll be your last good deed
It will be your final good act
Ah babe, it's true,
Oh, darling, what I'm about to say is true,
the saints are down every line waiting just for you
The holy ones are waiting for you along every path
Writer(s): Bill Morrissey
Contributed by Luke G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.