Ghost Train
North Country Gentlemen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw something that few people do
And Lord God I've seen enough.
I had a vision true and plain
That cracked broken rusty ghost train
That once you're on you can't get off.
I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes.
I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes.
Old iron bearing down like wind
It's built by ruin and run on sin
It had no start it has no end.
Every face it looks the same
No one can tell from where they came
Nobody knows what's round the bend.
I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes.
Looking down from the train through those busted window panes
They were calling out my name, "Boy, you're next."
This train, this train, this train, this train
This train ain't bound for glory, and I don't want to go no no no.
Lord have mercy let that ghost train pass me,
Curse its rails to the weeds and the rust.
Tell me once again that old story
Cure the pride and cure the flesh and cure the lust.
I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes.
Captured souls that test the ground, across the line, were never found
They were reaching out their hands from the wrecks.
This train, this train, this train, this train.
This train ain't bound for glory, and I don't want to go no no no.
This train ain't bound for glory, and I don't want to go no no no.
This train ain't bound for glory, and I don't want to go no no no.
This train ain't bound for glory, and I don't want to go no no no.
Come aboard the train, it'll be okay.
Come aboard the train, it'll be okay.
This train ain't bound for glory, and I don't want to go no no no.
The lyrics to "Ghost Train" by North Country Gentlemen are a vivid narration of a terrifying experience. The singer had a vision of a rusty ghost train that is filled with souls of the dead, cursed to ride it forever. The experience is so haunting that the singer cannot get it out of their mind, and they describe it as something that few people get to see. The vision is grim and foreboding, and the singer is scared of being the next soul to be captured by the train. The train is old, built by ruin and sin, and its rusting body is a metaphor for its sinister nature. It has no beginning and no end, and once you're on it, you can never get off.
The souls captured by the ghost train are all looking out through the broken window panes, calling out the singer's name. They are reaching out their hands from the wrecks, trying to pull the singer in. Despite their despair, the singer resists the temptation to get on board, fearing that they will be lost forever. The refrain "this train ain't bound for glory, and I don't want to go no no no" is a testament to the singer's desire to avoid being trapped on the ghost train.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a vision plain and true
I had a clear and factual vision
Saw something that few people do
Observed something that's rare for people to witness
And Lord God I've seen enough.
This experience was enough to shock me
I had a vision true and plain
I had an honest and clear vision
That cracked broken rusty ghost train
A dilapidated ghost train, damaged and old
That once you're on you can't get off.
Once you're on board, there's no escaping
I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes, I saw their eyes.
Repeatedly saw the eyes of the captured souls
Old iron bearing down like wind
Heavy metal of the train overwhelming like wind
It's built by ruin and run on sin
The train was made from destruction and fueled by sin
It had no start it has no end.
The train had no clear beginning and no end point in sight
Every face it looks the same
All souls on board have the same expression
No one can tell from where they came
It's unclear where these souls came from
Nobody knows what's round the bend.
It's unknowable what's ahead for those on the train
Looking down from the train through those busted window panes
Observing from the train through broken window panes
They were calling out my name, "Boy, you're next."
The captured souls were calling out to the singer
Lord have mercy let that ghost train pass me,
Hoping to avoid the ghost train's arrival
Curse its rails to the weeds and the rust.
Wishing for the train to be abandoned and neglected
Tell me once again that old story
Repeating an old tale for guidance or solace
Cure the pride and cure the flesh and cure the lust.
Craving absolution from pride, flesh, and lust
Captured souls that test the ground, across the line, were never found
The souls who attempted escape never made it
They were reaching out their hands from the wrecks.
The souls were trying to reach help from their wreckage
Come aboard the train, it'll be okay.
Trying to convince someone to board the train despite its dangers
This train ain't bound for glory, and I don't want to go no no no.
Rejecting the idea of taking this train and finding glory
Contributed by Kaylee O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.