I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going, mister, in this world
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the car wash
Where all it ever does is rain
Don't you feel like you're a rider on a downbound train?

She just said, "Joe, I gotta go
We had it once, we ain't got it anymore"
She packed her bags, left me behind
She bought a ticket on the Central Line
Nights as I sleep, I hear that whistle whining
I feel her kiss in the misty rain
And I feel like I'm a rider on a downbound train

Last night I heard your voice
You were crying, crying, you were so alone
You said your love had never died
You were waiting for me at home
Put on my jacket, I ran through the woods
I ran 'til I thought my chest would explode
There in a clearing, beyond the highway
In the moonlight, our wedding house shone
I rushed through the yard
I burst through the front door, my head pounding hard
Up the stairs, I climbed
The room was dark, our bed was empty
Then I heard that long whistle whine
And I dropped to my knees, hung my head, and cried
Now I swing a sledgehammer on a railroad gang
Knocking down them cross ties, working in the rain
Now, don't it feel like you're a rider on a downbound train?


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Downbound Train Lyrics as written by Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Downbound Train song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    What I like about Springsteen is he pulls no punches in his songs. He knows that not everyone leads a happy life. People fall out of love, people lose their jobs, people go to jail; bad things do happen and usually to otherwise decent people. Here he explores what happens to a couple to whom life had dealt a bad hand in the poker game of life. Depressing sure, true to life, ABSOLUTELY. If you love Springsteen, you love him because he DOES sing songs like these. A great song from the one of the best albums of the 80's.

    rmcd0494on March 21, 2008   Link

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