That Train That Carried My Girl from Town
The Watson Family Lyrics
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I'se standing on the corner with my head hung down.
Hey that train, carried my girl from town,
Hey-yay, yea, hey-yay.
I wish to the Lord that train would wreck,
Kill the engineer and break the fireman's neck.
Hey that train, carried my girl from town,
Hey-yay, yea, hey-yay.
Some dirty rounder stole my jelly roll.
Hey that train, carried my girl from town,
Hey-yay, yea, hey-yay.
There goes my girl, somebody bring her back,
'Cause she's got her hand in my money sack.
Hey that train, carried my girl from town,
Hey-yay, yea, hey-yay.
Ah, she's rollin' on down the line now,
(spoken)
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust,
Lord show me a woman that a man can trust.
Hey that train, carried my girl from town,
Hey-yay, yea, hey-yay.
Enough to make a man lonely. Oh yeah!
This is the way she sounded when she went outta hearin'. (spoken)
The Watson Family's song, "That Train That Carried My Girl from Town" is a ballad about heartbreak, loss, and betrayal. The song is sung in a mournful tone, and the lyrics express a deep sorrow and longing for the singer's lost love. The first line of the song, "Where were you when the train left town?" immediately sets a somber tone, suggesting that the singer has been left behind and is feeling abandoned. The second line, "I'se standing on the corner with my head hung down," reinforces this feeling of sadness and despair.
The chorus, "Hey that train, carried my girl from town," is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the train's significance as a symbol of separation and loss. The singer's wish for the train to wreck and harm the engineer and fireman reveals the depths of his sorrow and bitterness. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who has been left alone and is struggling to cope with his emotions. The line, "Rations on the table, coffee's getting cold, Some dirty rounder stole my jelly roll," conveys a sense of domesticity and home, further underscoring the singer's loss.
The song's final lines, "Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, Lord show me a woman that a man can trust," are a plea for comfort and acceptance. The song ends on a poignant note, leaving the listener with a sense of grief and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Where were you when the train left town?
Can you tell me where were you when the train departed the town?
I'se standing on the corner with my head hung down.
I was standing on the street corner feeling lonely and dejected.
Hey that train, carried my girl from town, Hey-yay, yea, hey-yay.
That train took away my girl from this town, and it hurts me.
I wish to the Lord that train would wreck, Kill the engineer and break the fireman's neck.
I feel so sad and angry that I wish the train would crash and cause harm to the train staff.
Rations on the table, coffee's gettin' cold, Some dirty rounder stole my jelly roll.
I have food and drinks on the table, but someone stole my food from the pantry.
There goes my girl, somebody bring her back, 'Cause she's got her hand in my money sack.
My girlfriend is leaving me, and I want someone to bring her back as she has access to my money.
Ah, she's rollin' on down the line now, (spoken) Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, Lord show me a woman that a man can trust.
My girlfriend is moving away, and I feel like my trust in her was misplaced, seeking for guidance on finding a faithful woman.
Enough to make a man lonely. Oh yeah!
All these problems mentioned in the song are enough to make a man feel alone and sad.
This is the way she sounded when she went outta hearin'. (spoken)
I can still remember how she sounded when she went away and was out of hearing range.
Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.