All Down The Line (Live At The Beacon Theatre
The Rolling Stones Lyrics


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Yeah, heard the diesel drumming all down the line.
Oh, heard the wires a humming all down the line.
Yeah, hear the women sighing all down the line.
Oh, hear the children crying all down the line.

(All down the line.) We'll be watching out for trouble, yeah.
(All down the line.) And we'd better keep the motor running, yeah.
(All down the line.) Well, you can't say yes and you can't say no,
Just be right there when the whistle blows.
I need a sanctified girl with a sanctified mind to help me now.

Yeah, all the people singing all down the line.
Mmmm, watch the men all working, working, yeah. (All down the line.)

(All down the line.) We're gonna open up the throttle yeah.
(All down the line.) We're gonna bust another bottle, yeah.
(All down the line.)

I need a shot of salvation, baby, once in a while.
Hear the whistle blowing, hear it for a thousand miles.

(All down the line.) We're gonna open up the throttle, yeah.
All down the line, We're gonna bust another bottle, yeah.
Well you can't say yes, and you can't say no,
Just be right there when the whistle blows.
I need a sanctified mind to help me out right now.





Be my little baby for a while.
Won't you be my little baby for a while?

Overall Meaning

The Rolling Stones's All Down The Line is a blues-rock song that speaks of the train tracks and their significance in the world of transportation. It is a song about the hustle and bustle of the train tracks, with the "diesel drumming" being the sound of the locomotive and "the wires humming" being the sound of the electrical lines along the tracks. The track's scene is rocked with women sighing and children crying, reflecting the hardworking, poverty-stricken people who rely on the train tracks for their livelihoods.


The song then switches to talk about the people watching out for trouble and keeping the motor running. There is a sense of urgency as nobody knows what is going to happen when the whistle blows. Mick Jagger sings about needing a sanctified girl with a sanctified mind to help him out of the mess that he is in, perhaps referring to a romantic partner, as the music speeds up and the sound of the train whistle becomes louder.


The latter part of the song is all about the engine revving up, opening up the throttle and busting yet another bottle. Jagger sings about needing a shot of salvation once in a while, and the sound of the whistle blowing echoes over a distance of a thousand miles. The song ends with Jagger asking a girl to be his "little baby for a while."


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, heard the diesel drumming all down the line.
The sound of the train engine can be heard all along the tracks.


Oh, heard the wires a humming all down the line.
The electric wires are making a humming sound all along the tracks.


Yeah, hear the women sighing all down the line.
Women can be heard sighing along the tracks.


Oh, hear the children crying all down the line.
Children can be heard crying along the tracks.


(All down the line.) We'll be watching out for trouble, yeah.
We will be vigilant for anything that could cause trouble.


(All down the line.) And we'd better keep the motor running, yeah.
We need to keep the engine running and be ready to go at any moment.


(All down the line.) Well, you can't say yes and you can't say no, Just be right there when the whistle blows.
We are committed to being present and ready to go when the train whistle blows.


I need a sanctified girl with a sanctified mind to help me now.
I am looking for a pure-hearted girl to help me in this moment.


Yeah, all the people singing all down the line.
Everyone is singing along the tracks.


Mmmm, watch the men all working, working, yeah. (All down the line.)
We are watching the men working along the tracks.


(All down the line.) We're gonna open up the throttle yeah.
We will increase the train's speed.


(All down the line.) We're gonna bust another bottle, yeah.
We will open another bottle of alcohol to drink.


I need a shot of salvation, baby, once in a while.
I need a drink to help me feel better from time to time.


Hear the whistle blowing, hear it for a thousand miles.
The train whistle can be heard from far away.


All down the line, We're gonna bust another bottle, yeah.
We will open another bottle of alcohol to drink.


Well you can't say yes, and you can't say no, Just be right there when the whistle blows.
We are committed to being present and ready to go when the train whistle blows.


I need a sanctified mind to help me out right now.
I need someone pure-hearted to help me in this moment.


Be my little baby for a while.
Stay with me and comfort me for a little while.


Won't you be my little baby for a while?
Please be my comfort and support for a little while.




Contributed by Xavier R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Tan Dod

Happy birthday to Mr. Charlie Watts... Thanks Ed... Great song ๐ŸŽ‚๐Ÿฅ‚๐ŸพโœŒ๏ธ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸŒน๐Ÿ˜Š

EdBmusic

Yes, Love Exile and Charlie, the best drummer of course.

โœงยก! Sweet Motivษ‘tionsหš.เผ„

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE STONE, CHARLIE! I love him so much, I want to thank him for being in the band since the beginning and for being the glue that keeps them together. What a great man and lovely soul โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’•โœจ๐Ÿ’๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’žโœจโœจ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’“โœจ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ’•โœจ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’“

Wilma Baumann

Ein wahnsinnig guter Drummer....und dabei so sympathisch und bescheiden geblieben...Happy Birthay Charly Watts, GrรผรŸe aus Deutschland ๐ŸŽผ๐ŸŽถ

EdBmusic

Ja, er ist sehr Gute Drummer. Herzlichen Glรผckwunsch zum Geburts Tag Charlie ๐Ÿฅ

Marisa Valenzisi

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREAT CHARLIE ! YOU'RE THE BEST DRUMMER OF THE WORLD FOREVER AND EVER !!!!

EdBmusic

Yes, he is. The heart of the Rolling Stones ๐Ÿฅ

john scialfa

@EdBmusic indeed

Hannible100

He has died as far as I am concerned the stones are dead too! I have tears in my eyes!

john scialfa

@Hannible100 obviously they'll never be the same band again that's for sure... But given their age and their passion for playing I doubt they'll call it quits

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