1) Albert Austin "Sonny" … Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists named Sonny Burgess:
1) Albert Austin "Sonny" Burgess (May 28, 1931 – August 18, 2017) was an American rockabilly guitarist and singer.
In the early 1950s, Burgess played boogie woogie music in dance halls and bars around Newport. Burgess, Kern Kennedy, Johnny Ray Hubbard, and Gerald Jackson formed a boogie-woogie band they called the Rocky Road Ramblers. In 1954, following a stint in the US Army (1951–53), Burgess re-formed the band, calling them the Moonlighters after the Silver Moon Club in Newport, where they performed regularly. After advice from record producer Sam Phillips, the group expanded to form the Pacers.
The band's first record was "We Wanna Boogie" in 1956 for Sun Records, in Memphis, about 80 miles southeast of his birthplace. The flip side was "Red Headed Woman." Both were written by Burgess. The songs have been described as "among the most raucous, energy-filled recordings released during the first flowering of rock and roll." Their onstage antics in performance were similarly described. Like other artists such as Ray Harris, Hayden Thompson, Billy Lee Riley and Warren Smith, chart success largely eluded him.
Burgess disbanded the group in 1971 but later found a new audience in Europe.
In 1990 (possibly before and afterward), Burgess toured with The Sun Rhythm Section. This group was composed of former session musicians from the Sun Recording Studio. Beside Burgess, band members included Paul Burlison (electric guitar), J.L. "Smoochy" Smith (piano), Stan Kessler (bass), Marcus Van Story (acoustic guitar & lead vocals), and D.J. Fontana on drums. Fontana was a member of Elvis Presley's band (1955-1968).
Burgess was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of Europe in 1999. His group, now called The Legendary Pacers, was a hit that same year in a rockabilly concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. It recorded Still Rockin’ and Rollin’ in 2000, voted the best new album in the country and roots field in Europe. The group was inducted in 2002 into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Sonny Burgess & The Legendary Pacers performed at the 2006 National Folk Festival in Richmond, Virginia to large, enthusiastic audiences.
Burgess hosted a weekly radio program called We Wanna Boogie with co-host June Taylor. The program, named after his first record, aired Sunday nights from 5-7pm Central Time on 91.9FM KASU in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Burgess was born on a farm near Newport, Arkansas to Albert and Esta Burgess. He graduated from Newport High School in 1948. Burgess had two brothers, and three sisters. Burgess was formerly married to Joann Adams starting in 1956, and they have two sons, Peyton and John. Between performances, Burgess lived in Newport until his death in 2017. Burgess died on August 18, 2017 at the age of 86.
2) Sonny Burgess is a country music artist, who released his debut album, When in Texas, in 2001.
Fast Train
Sonny Burgess Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
French champagne, sweet cocaine, cocktails in the shade
Chewing through your dad's trust fund, now it a brand game
But there ain't no fast train a-comin' that's gonna take away the pain
You were junk when you were young long time ago
She went her way and you went yours, that's the way it goes
It's ok to lie awake thinking how things might have been
Ain't no fast train a-comin' tearing up the track
Smokin' 'round the mountain just a-bringin' her back
Just ain't' gonna see that kingdom come
Take one last number now in the dying evening light
But there ain't no fast train a-comin' gonna make everything alright
Now you're old and gray, on a crooked cane, and you're walking stiff and slow
Spend your sunny days on a back porch thinking about a long ago
You can almost smell the roses from your blushing bride's bouquet
But there ain't no fast train comin' gonna bring back yesterday
Ain't no fast train a'comin' tearing up the track
Smokin' 'round the mountain just to bring it all back
Just ain't' gonna see that kingdom come
Yeah take one last number now in the dying evening light
'Cuz there ain't no fast train coming gonna make everything alright
Yeah there ain't no fast train a-comin' gonna make everything alright
The lyrics of Sonny Burgess's "Fast Train" suggest a story of a man who used to be wealthy and indulged in the luxuries of life, such as French champagne, sweet cocaine, and cocktails in the shade. He lived off his father's trust fund and played the brand game. However, the song expresses the inevitability of life's twists and turns, as the man lost his love, and his fate took a turn for the worse. He is now old and gray, walking with a crooked cane, reminiscing about a past where he almost smells the roses from his blushing bride's bouquet. The song reflects on the unreliability of fast trains, as nothing can bring back what was already lost.
The lyrics' deeper meaning suggests that one must acknowledge and appreciate the present time in life as everything is temporary, including wealth, status, and relationships. The man's experience reflects that a fast train or a miraculous event cannot take away the pain, nor can it bring everything back to normal. The song reflects on the consequences of choices made in the past and the price one pays for them in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
You were rich as a Rockefeller, yes you had it made
You were financially well-off and had everything you needed.
French champagne, sweet cocaine, cocktails in the shade
You indulged in luxurious activities like drinking fine champagne, using cocaine and sipping cocktails while lounging in the shade.
Chewing through your dad's trust fund, now it's a brand game
You used up your father's money recklessly and now rely on your own fame for sustenance.
But there ain't no fast train a-comin' that's gonna take away the pain
No amount of wealth or success can ease your emotional distress.
You were junk when you were young long time ago
You had issues with narcotics when you were younger.
She went her way and you went yours, that's the way it goes
Your love interest moved on, and so did you as per the natural order of things.
It's ok to lie awake thinking how things might have been
It's natural to ponder and introspect about what could have been.
But there ain't no fast train a-comin' gonna bring her back again
Even if you want your past love interest to return, it's an impossibility.
Ain't no fast train a-comin' tearing up the track
No matter how fast any train moves, it won't be able to solve your problems.
Smokin' 'round the mountain just a-bringin' her back
Even taking a fast train around the mountain won't bring back your past love interest.
Just ain't' gonna see that kingdom come
There's no hope for a happy ending or better future.
Take one last number now in the dying evening light
Make the most of the remaining time left in the evening.
But there ain't no fast train a-comin' gonna make everything alright
No instant solution exists that'll make everything okay.
Now you're old and gray, on a crooked cane, and you're walking stiff and slow
You've aged and have to use a cane to walk because you've slowed down.
Spend your sunny days on a back porch thinking about a long ago
You spend your peaceful days reminiscing about the past on the porch.
You can almost smell the roses from your blushing bride's bouquet
You remember your wedding day so vividly as if the scent of the roses is still fresh.
But there ain't no fast train comin' gonna bring back yesterday
No technology can bring back the past.
Yeah there ain't no fast train a-comin' gonna make everything alright
No quick fix can make everything okay.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GWIL OWEN, KEVIN GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind