Down Bound Train
Chuck Berry
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A stranger lying on a bar room floor Had drank so much he could drink no more And so he fell asleep with a troubled brain To dream that he rode on that down bound train The engine with blood was sweaty and damp And brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp And imps for fuel was shovelling bones While the furnace rang with a thousand groans The boiler was filled with lots of beer The devil himself was the engineer The passengers were most a motley crew Some were foreigners and others he knew Rich men and lost beggars in rags Handsome young ladies and wicked old hags As the train rushed on at a terrible pace Sulfuric fumes scorched their hands and face Wider and wider the country grew Faster and faster the engine flew Louder and louder the thunder crashed Brighter and brighter the lighting flashed Hotter and hotter the air became Til' their clothes were burned with each quivering refrain Then out of the din there came a yell Ha ha, said the devil we're nearing home Oh, how the passengers shrieked with pain They go to Satan with this down bound train The stranger awoke with an anguished cry His clothes wet with sweat and his hair standing high He fell on his knees on the bar room floor And prayed a prayer like never before And the prayers and vows were not in vain For he never rode that down bound train
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
10 facts about this song
Release Year"Down Bound Train" was released in 1956 as the B-side of "No Money Down."
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GenreThe song is classified under the rhythm and blues genre.
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Unique StoryThe song has a unique story, featuring a dream sequence about a train ride to Hell which marks it as one of the most dramatic songs of Berry.
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Lack of RecognitionDespite being a profound song, it never received the same recognition as other Chuck Berry hits.
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Artist InspirationChuck Berry's inspiration for writing the song came from the American spiritual song "The Lonesome Train," which describes a train taking the soul of the deceased to an unknown destination.
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Reinterpretations"Down Bound Train" was later covered by multiple artists, including The Yardbirds, AC/DC, and Bob Seger.
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Album AppearanceThe song was also featured on one of Chuck Berry’s well-known albums, "After School Session," which was released in 1957.
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StyleThe song is noted for its intense, haunting imagery, and rapid-fire lyrics, which showcase Berry's storytelling ability.
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LegacyWhile it might not have topped the charts, it's considered a classic among long-time Berry fans and is appreciated for its narrative and moral cautionary tale.
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Eastern InfluenceThe song "Down Bound Train" is an example of Western music incorporating concepts from Eastern philosophy, which often illustrates life lessons through metaphors like dreams and journeys.
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Citation
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"Down Bound Train Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33894987/Chuck+Berry/Down+Bound+Train>.
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