The song is actually quite simple and beautiful (entirely true as well). The "long black train" is symbolism for the path to Hell. Josh sings about looking to the heavens for redemption and avoiding the long black train.
As long as you cling to and trust in God, you will be saved.
The engineer as said in this song is Satan. He tempts, lies and cheats to coax you onto a path of sin and deciet--again, that long black train :)
Bottom line, it's a song about keeping faith, being strong, trusting in the Lord and resisting temptation to do wrong.
The song is actually quite simple and beautiful (entirely true as well). The "long black train" is symbolism for the path to Hell. Josh sings about looking to the heavens for redemption and avoiding the long black train.
As long as you cling to and trust in God, you will be saved.
The engineer as said in this song is Satan. He tempts, lies and cheats to coax you onto a path of sin and deciet--again, that long black train :)
Bottom line, it's a song about keeping faith, being strong, trusting in the Lord and resisting temptation to do wrong.
:)