Barbara Keith began her career at the Café Wha? in Greenwich Village, following in the footsteps of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Cosby and many others who got their start in that hallowed dive. She was soon recording for MGM/Verve, A&M, and Warner Brothers. Her songs have been covered by such diverse artists as Tanya Tucker, Barbra Streisand, The Dillards, Melanie, Hank Snow, Lowell George and others. “The Bramble and the Rose” has become a folk standard – often receiving the ultimate compliment of being mistaken for a traditional song.
Her husband Doug Tibbles had a whole other life before drumming – A native of Los Angeles, he was a TV writer for such shows as “The Munsters”, “Bewitched”, “Andy Griffith”, “My Three Sons”, “Family Affair”, and many more.
Unhappy with show business in general, Barbara gave back her major label advance, Doug quit his one-day-old job as story editor for “Happy Days”, and they went underground. Doug took up drums and son John took up bass at age eleven. Reclusive by choice, the band moved from L.A. to Western Massachusetts to write and woodshed. They began playing the occasional show while recording in their cellar.
When best selling author Elmore Leonard (“Get Shorty”, “Jackie Brown”, “Out of Sight”) walked in the Troubadour in L.A. one night looking for inspiration for his sequel to “Get Shorty”, he discovered The Stone Coyotes.
They became the model for Chili Palmer’s next adventure, “Be Cool”. Leonard said, “ It was music I could understand…straight ahead rock and roll with a twang. And there are good stories going on in the songs.” He included their lyrics in the book and dedicated it to them. He and the band made a string of appearances together around the country with a Words and Music Tour – from New York’s Mercury Lounge to L.A.’s Viper Room.
More recently with five songs on "Dog the Bounty Hunter", they gained national attention, but it is the grass roots, word-of-mouth response to their music that continues their momentum.
“The Stone Coyotes are a rare wild beast in a domesticated music industry.”
- Rolling Stone Online
“The Stone Coyotes’ hefty sound melds AC/DC’s charging power chords with a country troubadour’s literate observations.”
- New York Magazine
“The Stone Coyotes crank out unpretentious rock that has grime on its fingers and transcendence in its heart.”
- The Nashville Scene
“Poised to be the coolest husband-wife-and-son rock and roll trio ever…Those wary of a hype short on substance should rest assured – this family has the chops to back it up.”
- The L. A. Weekly
“Powerful and gritty, with just a hint of sweetness and sorrow.”
- Real Detroit Weekly
“Likely one of the festival’s best discoveries… The Stone Coyotes rocked and shocked the Horseshoe audience Saturday night with their AC/DC meets Patsy Cline sound.”
- Toronto Now
Train To Nowhere
The Stone Coyotes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Staring down the track
I felt a shiver
When I heard that clickety-clack
Heard the cry of "All aboard"
The ancient whistle blow
I've been waiting here so long
Oh - - -
I'll meet you down the line
I'm on the train to nowhere
And it's right on time
The conductor was a blind man
And it caused me some concern
When he handed me my ticket
For the point of no return
He said, "You look a little worse for wear
I hate to call your bluff
But if you're going to ride this line
You must be made of sterner stuff"
I begged the brakeman, "Stop this train"
He said, "But what's the use?
You should know by now it's commonplace
For all hell to be breaking loose"
Then I heard my grandmother singing
"Hush - don't you cry
You're my little piece of Heaven
Fallen down from the sky"
The Stone Coyotes's song, Train To Nowhere is a melancholic tune that showcases the singer's struggles as he boards a train to nowhere. The opening lines of the song, "Standing on the platform, staring down the track, I felt a shiver when I heard that clickety-clack" paint a vivid picture of a man waiting at the train station, contemplating his decisions in life. He's unsure where he's heading, but knows that he has to get on the train that's bound for nowhere.
As the song progresses, the conductor, who is blind, hands the singer his ticket for the point of no return. This line implies that the singer is making a decision from which there is no turning back. The conductor warns him that the journey will not be easy, and only the strongest will survive it.
As he settles in, the singer begs the brakeman to stop the train, but the brakeman argues that it's useless to try. The singer then hears his grandmother's voice, singing a lullaby to him, offering him comfort during this tough journey. The song ends with the singer acknowledging his fate, resigning himself to the train's path and the unknown destination that lies ahead.
Overall, the song is a metaphor for life's journey, highlighting the singer's struggles as he goes through it alone. It's a reminder that life can be tough, and we must stay strong and resilient to weather the storms that come our way.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on the platform
I am standing on a railway platform
Staring down the track
Looking at the railway track in front of me
I felt a shiver
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine
When I heard that clickety-clack
I heard the sound of the train moving on the track
Heard the cry of "All aboard"
I heard the announcement inviting people to board the train
The ancient whistle blow
The old train whistle sounded
I've been waiting here so long
I've been waiting at the station for a long time
I can't tell friend from foe
I don't know who is my friend or my enemy
Oh - - -
Exclamation of surprise or awe
I'll meet you down the line
I will meet you at a later date or location
I'm on the train to nowhere
I am on a train that will take me nowhere in particular
And it's right on time
The train is running according to schedule
The conductor was a blind man
The person in charge of the train is visually impaired
And it caused me some concern
I became worried or anxious
When he handed me my ticket
When he gave me my train ticket
For the point of no return
For a destination from where there is no turning back
He said, "You look a little worse for wear
The conductor said, "You look tired or unwell
I hate to call your bluff
I don't want to accuse you of lying
But if you're going to ride this line
But if you want to travel on this train
You must be made of sterner stuff"
You need to be more resilient or tough
I begged the brakeman, "Stop this train"
I pleaded with the train operator to stop the train
He said, "But what's the use?
But he said it was pointless
You should know by now it's commonplace
You should be aware that it happens often
For all hell to be breaking loose"
For things to be chaotic or out of control
Then I heard my grandmother singing
Then I heard a song my grandmother used to sing
"Hush - don't you cry
She said, "Be quiet and don't cry
You're my little piece of Heaven
You are very special to me
Fallen down from the sky"
You are like an angel who has come down from heaven
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: KEITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind