Having left Coxsone the Ethiopians started recording at Dynamic Studios for the W.I.R.L. label releasing one of the all-time ska classics, the exhuberant 'Train to Skaville', which was their first success. In 1968 they recorded the song Everything Crash, their first big hit and a cry of criticism on the political situation in Jamaica at the time (water rationing and power cuts had been introduced leading to unrest, 31 people were shot by the police). Everything Crash was later covered by Prince Buster. 'The Whip' is another of their enduring songs from that period.
In 1969 they released the album Reggae Power and in 1970 the album Woman a Capture Man. In the period '70 - '75 the Ethiopians switched from producer to producer releasing several great songs like, no baptism, pirate and good ambition. In 1975 Stephen Taylor died in a car crash, Leonard Dillon continued to tour as the Ethiopian. In 1991 he recorded the album "On The Road Again".
There is also another band under the name as "ETHIOPIANS." They are a lo-fi band with a mix of garage rock and surf creating a unique atmospheric sound. Members of ETHIOPIANS are Marty Brass and Paul Ryan.
Engine '54
The Ethiopians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beep, beep
Engine 54
Engine 54
Engine 54
Engine 54
Beep, beep
Beep, beep
Leaving from Kingston to Spanish town
Bog walk, Montego bay
To bog walk, Montego bay
I said these people on the countryside
Used to rely on engine 54
It's engine engine 54
Beep, beep
Beep, beep
Leaving from Portland back to Kingston
From Portland back to Kingston
This engine engine 54
Engine engine 54
It's engine engine 54
It's engine engine 54
Engine engine 54
Engine engine 54
Engine engine 54
Engine engine 54
Engine engine 54
The Ethiopians' song "Engine 54" narrates the story of a train engine in Jamaica, specifically the rural countryside areas that relied on it for transportation. The repetition of "beep beep" and "engine 54" throughout the song creates an almost hypnotic rhythm, evoking the sounds of the train's whistle and the locomotive itself. The lyrics mention several Jamaican towns and cities that the train passes through, including Kingston, Spanish town, Bog walk, and Montego Bay, highlighting its importance as a means of transportation for people in both rural and urban areas.
What makes the song particularly interesting is the way it touches on the more socio-economic implications of the train, alluding to the fact that it played a crucial role in connecting the countryside to more developed areas. The line "these people on the countryside used to rely on engine 54" acknowledges that without it, the people in rural areas would have been even further isolated and cut off from Jamaica's urban centers. Its importance as a cultural symbol also cannot be overstated, as the train was a central aspect of daily life for many Jamaicans at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Beep, beep
The sound of the train's horn as it begins to travel
Engine 54
The name of the train locomotive that is being referenced throughout the song
Leaving from Kingston
The train is departing from the city of Kingston in Jamaica
Leaving from Kingston to Spanish town
The train is travelling from Kingston to the nearby town of Spanish Town
Bog walk, Montego bay
The train is stopping at the stations of Bog Walk and Montego Bay, both of which are located in Jamaica
I said these people on the countryside
The singer is noting how people living in the rural areas of Jamaica rely on the train for transportation
Used to rely on engine 54
The train named Engine 54 was an important mode of transportation for people living in Jamaica's countryside in the past
From Portland back to Kingston
The train is travelling from Portland back to Kingston, the same route that it took earlier in the song
It's engine engine 54
The singer is repeating the name of the train locomotive to emphasize its importance
Beep, beep
The train is sounding its horn again
Engine engine 54
The singer again repeats the name of the train to emphasize its significance
It's engine engine 54
Once again, the singer is repeating the name of the locomotive to stress its importance
Engine engine 54
The singer repeatedly says the name of the train as if it is a mantra, highlighting its significance to Jamaica's history and culture
Lyrics Β© MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: LEONARD DILLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lorenzo Firinu
Beep, bee-eep...shh
Beep, bee-eep...shh
Engine fifty-four
Engine fifty-four
Engine fifty-four
Engine fifty-four
Beep, bee-eep...shh
Beep, bee-eep...shh
Leaving from Kingston
Leaving from Kingston to Spanish Town
Bog Walk, Montego Bay
To Bog Walk, Montego Bay
I said these people on the countryside
Used to rely on Engine fifty-four
It's Engine Engine fifty-four
Beep, bee-eep...shh
Beep, bee-eep...shh
Leaving from Portland back to Kingston
From Portland back to Kingston
It's Engine Engine fifty-four
Engine Engine fifty-four
It's Engine Engine fifty-four
It's Engine Engine fifty-four
Engine Engine fifty-four
Engine Engine fifty-four
Engine Engine fifty-four
Engine Engine fifty-four
Engine Engine fifty-four
Engine Engine fifty-four
DrCrabfingers
Stunning. In my local boozer there was a guy called DJ Derek who used to play all these classics on vinyl...he was a white guy with a wicked Windies accent, he was maybe 50-60 dressed like a fifties dude and used a bakalite telephone as a mixing earpiece. He had the most humungous library of rocksteady, reggae, ska etc etc... He was massively respected by the Windies community. He was a legend. Anyone in Bristol/Bath will have heard of him. I treasure the memory of those evenings listening to his library and his introductions....
skate central
Dj Derek absolute hero, only saw him once wish I'd seen him more. Def westcountry ledge π―π²ππΌ
Steve Clayton
There was a documentary about him a few years ago he was a legend in Bristol
Ken Kovar
faith in imanity restored
Joe C
Saw him DJ while at uni a number of times!!
badger former punk
Just awesome...bloody timeless...is there lee Scratch in this?
D66DuCane
One of those tunes you really wouldn't mind if it went on for two hours..
3
The Ethiopians make good songs about trains.
Robby Comrade
One Of My All Time Favorite πͺπͺπ―π―ππEngine 54...Big Up Ethiopians
Lee Roberts
You know this tune always gets me up for a skank, even in the living room...Great stuff!