Mystery Train
The Band feat. Paul Butterfield Lyrics


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Train arrive, it's sixteen coaches long
Train arrive, it's sixteen coaches long
Well, that long black train take my baby and gone

Mystery train, rollin' down the track
Mystery train, rollin' down the track
Well, it took my baby, people it won't be coming back
Train, train, rollin' 'round the bend
Train, train, rollin' 'round the bend
Well, it took my baby, people it won't be back again

Train arrive, it's sixteen coaches long




Train arrive, it's sixteen coaches long
Well, that long black train take my baby and gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mystery Train by The Band feat. Paul Butterfield tell the story of a man whose lover has been taken away on a long black train. The 16 coaches of the train are emphasized throughout the song, as they symbolize the immense power and force of the train that took his baby away. The repetition of "train, train, rollin' 'round the bend" creates a sense of despair and hopelessness as the man watches his love disappear.


The lyric "Mystery train, rollin' down the track" adds a layer of ambiguity to the song, as it suggests that there is something enigmatic and mysterious about the train that has taken his love away. The fact that the train is black adds to the sense of uncertainty and foreboding. The lyrics evoke feelings of heartbreak and loss, while also conveying a sense of darkness and danger that surrounds the train.


Line by Line Meaning

Train arrive, it's sixteen coaches long
A train that is sixteen coaches long has arrived


Train arrive, it's sixteen coaches long
A train that is sixteen coaches long has arrived


Well, that long black train take my baby and gone
My loved one has been taken away by a long black train


Mystery train, rollin' down the track
A train of mysterious origins is moving along the tracks


Mystery train, rollin' down the track
A train of mysterious origins is moving along the tracks


Well, it took my baby, people it won't be coming back
My loved one was taken by the mystery train and will not be returning


Train, train, rollin' 'round the bend
A train is moving around a bend in the tracks


Train, train, rollin' 'round the bend
A train is moving around a bend in the tracks


Well, it took my baby, people it won't be back again
My loved one was taken by the train and will not be returning


Train arrive, it's sixteen coaches long
A train that is sixteen coaches long has arrived


Train arrive, it's sixteen coaches long
A train that is sixteen coaches long has arrived


Well, that long black train take my baby and gone
My loved one has been taken away by a long black train




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HERMAN PARKER JR., SAM PHILLIPS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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