Smokestacks
james! Lyrics
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Don't you hear me callin'?
Don't you hear me callin'? Well, well
Tell me where did you go last night?
I gotta know who you been with
Tell me where did you go last night? Well, well
Let me go for a ride, pretty baby, you know
Stop your train, I gotta ride with you
Gotta ride with you
I gotta ride with you
Fare you well, goodbye, pretty baby
Fare you well, goodbye, goodbye
I never see nobody little baby, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Yeah, smokestack lightning
Shining like gold
Don't you hear me callin'? Well, well
You gotta stop your train
Let me go for a ride, gotta ride with you
Stop your train and ride with you, now
The song "Smokestacks" by James! takes inspiration from blues legend Howlin' Wolf's song "Smokestack Lightning." The lyrics reminisce about a past lover and attempt to beckon them back. The opening lyrics of "Smokestack Lightning, don't you hear me calling?" serves as an appeal to the smoke and lightning above, symbolizing the singer's desperation to be reunited with their lover. The following lines "Tell me where did you go last night? I gotta know who you been with" emphasize the longing and uncertainty that the singer feels after being separated from their lover. The repetition of "well, well" throughout the song further emphasizes the urgency and emotion behind the lyrics.
The chorus of the song contains the lyrics "You gotta stop your train, let me go for a ride, pretty baby, you know" which can be interpreted as a plea to their lover to "stop" running away and "ride" back into their lover's arms. The song ends on a melancholic note, repeating "goodbye" multiple times. Despite the singer's desperation to reunite with their lover, the final goodbye connotes the inevitability of them moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, smokestack lightning
The smokestack is shining and therefore it's appearance illuminates like lightning
Don't you hear me callin'?
Is the train coming and that's why the singer is calling out?
Don't you hear me callin'? Well, well
The singer seems to be getting excited about the train's arrival
Tell me where did you go last night?
The artist is curious where the train went the night before
I gotta know who you been with
The artist wants to know with whom the train went last night
Tell me where did you go last night? Well, well
The singer becomes anxious and double checks
You gotta stop your train
The singer commands the train to stop
Let me go for a ride, pretty baby, you know
The artist wants to go along for the ride in a playful manner
Stop your train, I gotta ride with you
The artist stresses the importance of needing to go along
Gotta ride with you
The artist had no option but to go along on the train ride
Fare you well, goodbye, pretty baby
The singer bids farewell to the train
Fare you well, goodbye, goodbye
The artist says goodbye to the train again, just to be sure
I never see nobody little baby, goodbye
The singer most likely will never see this train again and says goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
The singer bids farewell one last time
Goodbye, goodbye
The singer repeats themselves to really emphasize the goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Another repetition of the goodbye, but suspecting they will never see the train again
Yeah, smokestack lightning
The smokestack again catches the artist's attention, perhaps hinting at the train's return
Shining like gold
The smokestack continues to grab the singer's attention and likened to gold
Don't you hear me callin'? Well, well
The singer calls out one more time, hoping they will get a response
You gotta stop your train
The artist once again tries to command the train to stop, this time with more urgency
Let me go for a ride, gotta ride with you
The artist begs again to go on this train ride
Stop your train and ride with you, now
The artist pleads with the train to stop and let them ride along
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chester Burnett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind