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Play A Train Song Lyrics
smokin' in a black cadillac, the engine's winding down
he parked it up on the sidewalk like he owned the whole damn town
i'd hear him talking to some chick
through a thick ghost of smoke, through a thicker haze of Southern Comfort and Coke
he'd say, "girl, you're hotter than the hinges hanging off the gates of hell
don't be afraid to turn to me, babe, if he don't treat you well"
and by "he" he meant me, so i laughed and i shook his hand
he laughed a little bit louder, as he'd
yell up at the band:
play a train song
pour me one more round
make 'em leave my boots on
when they lay me into the ground
i am a runaway locomotive
out of my one-track mind
and i've been looking for any kind of trouble that i can find
i got this old black leather jacket
i got this pack of Marlboro Reds
i got this stash here in my pocket
i got these thoughts in my own head
to write, to run on till i gotta walk
until i've got to crawl
there's a moment that i'm in right now
and nothing else at all
play a train song
pour me one more round
make 'em leave my boots on
when they lay me into the ground
i am a runaway locomotive
out of my one-track mind
[harmonica solo]
in the television and blizzard lights
we looked around his place
we found him cold there on the sofa
a little smile across his face
and though i tried with all my sadness
somehow i just could not weep
for, man, it looked to me
like he died laughing in his sleep
singing a train song
drinking one last round
we made 'em leave his boots on
on the day they laid him down
he was a runaway locomotive
out of his one-track mind
play a train song
play a train song
play a train song
he parked it up on the sidewalk like he owned the whole damn town
i'd hear him talking to some chick
through a thick ghost of smoke, through a thicker haze of Southern Comfort and Coke
don't be afraid to turn to me, babe, if he don't treat you well"
and by "he" he meant me, so i laughed and i shook his hand
he laughed a little bit louder, as he'd
yell up at the band:
pour me one more round
make 'em leave my boots on
when they lay me into the ground
i am a runaway locomotive
out of my one-track mind
and i've been looking for any kind of trouble that i can find
i got this pack of Marlboro Reds
i got this stash here in my pocket
i got these thoughts in my own head
to write, to run on till i gotta walk
until i've got to crawl
there's a moment that i'm in right now
and nothing else at all
pour me one more round
make 'em leave my boots on
when they lay me into the ground
i am a runaway locomotive
out of my one-track mind
we looked around his place
we found him cold there on the sofa
a little smile across his face
and though i tried with all my sadness
somehow i just could not weep
for, man, it looked to me
like he died laughing in his sleep
drinking one last round
we made 'em leave his boots on
on the day they laid him down
he was a runaway locomotive
out of his one-track mind
play a train song
play a train song
play a train song
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This is a tribute to an integral part of the cool East Nashville music scene, Skip "play a effing train song" Litz. Todd obviously loved the guy. In interviews, Todd has talked about how Skip would drive around in a big Cadillac and always wanted to hear a train song.
skip litz i think was actually his roadie for awhile. he worked sound at the radio cafe, which is no longer there. I can imagine he always yelled in the background "play a f#ckin' train song", which stirred up this song after he died. this is the optimal train song.
this is a perfectly written song. you gotta love the way todd spill out everything he's feeling inside through a song. see also: waco moon
I love this song because Todd's love for one of his best friends was poured out into this song and you can feel it. Just listening to the song makes you think you know Skip and you almost cry by the end of it. When I saw him play this song live, I could almost hear him start to cry a little near the end of the song but it wasn't a sad cry, it was a happy cry.
Todd Snider is the New American version of Neil Young! Both Geniuses in their own right, and masters of writing and performing the greattest American music, Folk Rock with a touch of Down Home. Makes you proud to be a North American.