In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
In the shuffling madness
Of the locomotive breath
Runs the all-time loser
Headlong to his death
Oh, he feels the piston scraping
Steam breaking on his brow
Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train it won't stop
Oh no way to slow down
He sees his children jumping off
At the stations one by one
His woman and his best friend
In bed and having fun
Oh, he's crawling down the corridor
On his hands and knees
Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train it won't stop going
No way to slow down
Hey
He hears the silence howling
Catches angels as they fall
And the all-time winner
Has got him by the balls
Oh, he picks up Gideons bible
Open at page one
I think God he stole the handle
And the train it won't stop going
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
Of the locomotive breath
Runs the all-time loser
Headlong to his death
Oh, he feels the piston scraping
Steam breaking on his brow
Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train it won't stop
Oh no way to slow down
He sees his children jumping off
At the stations one by one
His woman and his best friend
In bed and having fun
Oh, he's crawling down the corridor
On his hands and knees
Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train it won't stop going
No way to slow down
Hey
He hears the silence howling
Catches angels as they fall
And the all-time winner
Has got him by the balls
Oh, he picks up Gideons bible
Open at page one
I think God he stole the handle
And the train it won't stop going
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
Lyrics submitted by KidArt, edited by teffjweedy
Locomotive Breath Lyrics as written by Ian Anderson
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is what was listed at Cup of Wonder, a great Tull fansite:
This song is about modern man ("the all-time loser"), who can hardly keep up with the pace of life (chase for profit) in our society ("locomotive breath"). He suffers from all kinds of desillusions, alienation and solitude, cannot get hold of his own life and in the end resorts to religion: "he picks up Gideons Bible, open at page one", in the hope to find a solution. The verseline "The train won't stop going, no way to slow down" symbolizes his/our life that goes on and on without a pause until we inevitably die. At this place in the bible one will find the book of Genesis in which is described how the universe, the world and all living beings on it were created. Roland Tarmo points out that "old Charlie" is a reference to Charles Darwin and his evolution theory, that offered a scientific alternative for the unconditional belief in creation as worded in Genesis, thus alienating man from god (old Charlie stole the handle) "Gideon" is the organisation that aims at spreading the Bible by having it placed in public buildings like hotels.<br /> Locomotive Breath is a reference to the de-personalization of the modern industrial society which treats people as parts of a machine.<br /> He (the protagonist) is the all-time loser, who has tried and failed at gaining control of his life. this headlong chase for profits...<br /> "Crawling down the corridor" is his struggle to keep going, though crushed by the weight of his failures. corridor is lovely imagery the doors might open to gardens of eden but we keep going down the corridor seeking the farthest door (to happiness)<br /> "The all time winner has got him by the balls" is a reference to the mad merry-go-round of mantle of winner (and his greed) that keeps him locked into his position as a broken cog in the corporate machine, a position from which he can only escape by dying<br /> "He feels the piston scraping Steam breaking on his brow" (he feels all the thrills and pain of the ride - headlong rush to madness)<br /> "The train it won't stop going No way to slow down." the greed fuels the rush for profits there is no stopping one or the other<br /> "He sees his children jumping off At the stations one by one". all his efforts to earn profits fall by the way side there is someone else ahead in the rush for profits, the mantle of winner that has captured vitality of his soul.<br /> "His woman and his best friend In bed and having fun." his soul ( wife) and his happiness ( best friend) are estranged to him by the same act (in bed and having fun)<br /> "He hears the silence howling Catches angels as they fall" the answers to big questions are unavailable to the point that their silence starts howling. and faith catches the angels (those who give up greed) as they fall by wayside ALT silence of soulless march gathers more following as angels (kindred souls) fall to temptations of this march.<br /> I acknowledge help from interpretations of brian333 mar 21, 2013/ taobeth dec 16, 2004/ track nov 22 2009 <br /> ps: 1. to fail you just need someone else to succeed more not necessarily drugs or alchohol<br />