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Behind the Song: “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey

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Many of us artistic types marvel at stories of our peers who were brought up in families that completely supported their musical dreams, who provided encouragement, lessons, whatever it took for us to create and achieve. But Journey’s Jonathan Cain can attribute his success to his family not only for their encouragement and support, but for providing him with the title of one of the biggest songs in music history.

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“Don’t Stop Believin’” was the second single from Journey’s 1981 album Escape , and has become one of the most recognizable songs of all time. Before Cain was a member of Journey, he played for The Babys, and the band was sidelined after Babys singer John Waite injured his leg on stage. Unemployed and not knowing what he was going to do next, Cain called his father, who told him over the phone, “Don’t stop believin’.” And Cain jotted those words down in a notebook. Soon afterward he was hired for the keyboard spot in Journey, and became one of rock’s most famous keyboardists and writers.

In his book Don’t Stop Believin’ , Cain recounted how he, singer Steve Perry and guitarist Neal Schon put the song together. “Steve asked if I had any lyrics or melodies that might work for the new album. I went home and paged through all my spiral notebooks. On the last page of my notebook, I found three words scribbled: Don’t stop believin’. I knew Steve would like the title – the words my father had given me on a long-distance phone call one night … I came up with a cool chord progression and started humming the lyrics ‘don’t stop – believin’ – hold on to that feelin’ over the changes. I didn’t know what the other lyrics were yet, but I planned to show the guys the idea anyway.”

“Steve liked my chord progression and suggested we use the same chords for the verse, but with the rolling piano feel I’d played for The Babys’ albums. I began without the bass notes, using only the right hand, and Neal started playing what would end up to be the bass line … we looped over and over until it began to take shape … After the first verse, Neal began to play a staccato guitar line that sounded like a train going down the tracks as we headed into another verse with only piano and vocal … we roared into Neal’s guitar part, playing unison with the newly minted bass line. When the second B section ended, Neal burst into the melody I had written, playing it as a theme.”

“Excited to finish the lyrics to our new song, I met Steve at his house the next morning. ‘Neal’s guitar in this section sounds like a train heading down the track,’ I said. “Makes me think of a song I love – ‘Midnight Train to Georgia. You too?”

“’Gladys Knight and the Pips – a classic for sure,’” Steve said.”

“What if the lyric was ‘the midnight train goin’ anywhere?’ I said. Steve liked the lyric, so we built off it, adding a boy and a girl headed out on the midnight train. We loved this idea of two young people dreaming about leaving their town and going somewhere to make a new start. So we began our song with our two characters and put them in motion. When Steve arrived at ‘just a city boy, born and raised in’ – he came to an abrupt stop. ‘How ’bout making him from Detroit?’ he asked.”

“‘Cool, but we need another syllable to fill it out here. How does South Detroit sound?’ Playing his bass, Steve sang the new lyric. ‘This sings great. Is there even a South Detroit?’”

“’Heck if I know,’ I said. ‘If it sings well, I say let’s move on.’”

“I told him about the Whisky a Go Go – how The Babys played there on New Years’ Eve and my first live gig with them. I described the small, packed venue, the old bar smell, and the sting of smoke in the eyes. ‘A singer in a smoky room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume. For a smile they can share the night. It goes on and on and on and on,’ we wrote.”

“The middle section that Neal had come up with was next. With our conversation about Sunset Boulevard still fresh, Steve and I went on to see the movie we were creating in our minds.”

“‘Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard, their shadows searching in the night.’ … These were the ‘streetlight people, living just to find emotion, hiding somewhere in the night’ … ‘Workin’ hard just to get my fill. Everybody wants a thrill. Payin’ anything to roll the dice just one more time,’ we wrote. Those lines summed up the two of us, sacrificing it all to gamble on a dream.”

“We didn’t know it yet, but we had just written an anthem that would stand the test of time.”

The song became a huge hit, and helped propel Escape to multi-platinum sales worldwide. It soared in popularity again the next century – and in sales of something that didn’t exist in 1981, downloads – when it was prominently used in the TV series The Sopranos and Glee, becoming one of the most downloaded songs of all time that was originally recorded in the 20 th century. The song was co-produced by former Lynyrd Skynyrd soundman Kevin Elson and onetime Queen engineer Mike Stone, who also engineered the album. Cain and Schon are still in Journey today, and Cain is believin’ in other ways with newfound success as a Christian recording artist.

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Just a small town girl Livin' in a lonely world She took a midnight train Going anywhere Just a city boy Born and raised in South Detroit He took a midnight train Going anywhere

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Don't Stop Believin'

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Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded. During that period, the band released a series of hit songs, including 1981's "Don't Stop Believin'", which became in 2009 the top-selling catalog track in iTunes history. Its parent studio album, Escape, the band's eighth and most successful, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and yielded another of their most popular singles, "Open Arms". Its 1983 follow-up, Frontiers, was almost as successful in the United States, reaching No. 2 and spawning several successful singles; it broadened the band's ap… more »

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Written by: Jonathan Cain, Stephen Ray Perry, Neal Joseph Schon

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC

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What a bunch of simpletons (not all of you, there are some insightful posts on here)!

Yes there are lyrics that loosely allude to a hooker. It's called an allegory people (look it up if you need to).

The song is about the common search for love and the fear of loneliness. The lyrics you are focusing in on are a metaphor for all of the things we use to fill the void in out lives so we don't feel the pain of emptiness and loneliness. The chorus provides an optimistic counterpoint to this - "Don't stop belivin'" Yes, it's a lonely world, and finding someone is hard, but hope makes it all bearable (believing that there is someone there for you).

It also addresses escaping from your past, whatever it may be, and looking toward a better tomorrow.

For those who have to have it spelled out line by line (or at least stanza by stanza):

Small town girl..city boy...midnight train: A commonality between us all, regardless of our backgrounds, the loneliness of adolescence, escaping from your past.

Smokey room...for a smile...on and on: Metaphoric for the places/circumstances we seek love and companionship (the stereotype being a bar). We are so desperate to not be lonely that we'll form a relationship simply on the basis of a smile (again metaphorical, though often literal). "On and On," again referring to our common condition, this scene is repeatedly played out day in and out - we're all searching for love and companionship.

"Strangers waiting": We are all strangers to each other, no one has experienced exactly what you have, and there is a certain inherent isolation in that. "Up and down the boulevard": Everywhere, every town, every person, through all life experience. "Their shadows searching in the night": The night represents isolation and separation from others. Shadows are our own inner darkness (or demons, our deepest secrets). We are haunted by our personal ghosts, and are seeking someone who will understand and relate to us despite who we are. The shadows aren't really seeking (since shadows aren't actually anything, but the absence of light), but us seeking someone with whom we can share who we really are. "Streetlight, people": What we project ourselves to be to the world - how we want people to see us. "Living just to find emotion": Again, we are isolated and seeking meaningful relationships, but willing to settle for something to make us feel less empty, so we will fill that void with any sort of connection. "Hiding, somewhere in the night": See above, any sort of superficial emotional connection seems to be preferable to being alone in the darkness.

"Working hard to get my fill, everybody wants a thrill":Putting forth a great deal of effort to make those connections, the fact that we often substitute cheap thrills (sex?) for true meaning and connection in relationships. "Payin' anything...": We will sacrifice a great deal to avoid being loney, even if the reward is fleeting. "Some will win...": Some will find a true, meaningful relationship, some won't, some never will. "the movie...": This cycle goes on and on with, just the players change over time.

"Don't stop believin', Hold on to that feelin'": Don't give up hope, keep searching for that meaningful relationship regardless of how difficult and trying the search is. "Streetlight people": Again, see above - everyone has their "public face" which we present. Despite our inherent shallowness, keep seeking the deeper, more meaningful connection.

I know it's popular to bash Journey and this song simply because of how popular they were in the 80's and that they to some extent defined popular music for that era - move beyond that. I'm a huge Rush fan, I love the work that Neil Peart puts into crafting his lyrics and the meaning behind them. That said, I defy you to find another song that in 19 lines more accurately sums up the human condition when it comes to seeking out someone to connect with and the loneliness everyone feels. I guarantee you a good portion of the popularity of this song is that so many people can relate to it, even if they can't exactly define why. This is a masterfully written (and performed piece of art), and deserves recognition as such.

@Tristar I completely appreciate every word you took the time to break this down so well, seems like You wrote the song!

@Tristar LMAO... are you a dumbass. Calling people names, when you are 100% off the writer of the song, comes right out and proclaims its about his walk to jesus. Before you start throwing rocks, best make sure your in a kevlar building...https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iamsecond.com%2Ffilm%2Fjonathan-cain%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR08mVjNKpmiYkDeN4iIiv8XvOmFgUtKgpZDzAc0AG5BEj-9TjpQVJGG8Ck&amp;h=AT0uwblU9MRqsUyLUm52qqSRJsWMiGnZSWar03FBDDu9uUuF7TDwll8Ftyaiz0RUz0jOJ_sW8nI3QywjGq6mW37GkqCebe-169a2_RhS7nHRxO2z0JGfmvqLJP5pQ4cmL2xeDDwUwzhvnOzV2cujqHY&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2cxduPXuVvU5kPcYQN4gCs4BXghfDh1xQdLJznG8CEUVgwWy0xYyuk6bSUBDYuR0f99ehP_shsLw4p1oNU_uxc0e_JV_Bmcwy4dEtI4-pkyqsXNFQXOYJk5ighVNAMNSXZ2hQIT_LUKl7z2q4sWwB70X20DYBZlO-q9OdQO55Ggj63bk0AOg...

@Tristar LMAO... are you a dumbass. Calling people names, when you are 100% off the writer of the song, comes right out and proclaims its about his walk to jesus. Before you start throwing rocks, best make sure your in a kevlar building... https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iamsecond.com%2Ffilm%2Fjonathan-cain%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR08mVjNKpmiYkDeN4iIiv8XvOmFgUtKgpZDzAc0AG5BEj-9TjpQVJGG8Ck&amp;h=AT0uwblU9MRqsUyLUm52qqSRJsWMiGnZSWar03FBDDu9uUuF7TDwll8Ftyaiz0RUz0jOJ_sW8nI3QywjGq6mW37GkqCebe-169a2_RhS7nHRxO2z0JGfmvqLJP5pQ4cmL2xeDDwUwzhvnOzV2cujqHY&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2cxduPXuVvU5kPcYQN4gCs4BXghfDh1xQdLJznG8CEUVgwWy0xYyuk6bSUBDYuR0f99ehP_shsLw4p1oNU_uxc0e_JV_Bmcwy4dEtI4-pkyqsXNFQXOYJk5ighVNAMNSXZ2hQIT_LUKl7z2q4sWwB70X20DYBZlO-q9OdQO55Ggj63bk0AOg

That one line..."some will win, some will lose.." That line couldnt be more true. this one time i won, and then this other time, i lost. steve perry really tells it like it is.

This song is about never giving up on love. Everyone feels lonely sometimes. This song makes me think that every time I am sad or lonely there is someone else out there who might be lonely too and that someday we will meet. It sounds dumb I guess, maybe naive or hopelessly romantic but I think its true. I "hold on to that feeling" of hope all the time.

This song is extremely special to me. My father died when I was young and always used to tell me "Keep the faith, Kris. Keep the faith." This song has never let me down and I think it's exactly that; keep the faith and don't stop believing no matter what happens. There is always something great out there as long as you believe it exists. I've experienced some rough things in my life and whenever I asked God to help me, this song would play on the radio or wherever I was.

I was supposed to graduate from college in May 2011, and I couldn't because I had to repeat my 90 hours for teaching. I knew God had a plan for me for some reason although I didn't know what. I ended up student teaching at the school attached to my Church. I could not have asked for a better experience. I honestly could not or would not have asked for a better sign from God that I have a bright future in this field.

Never give up on yourself or your dreams, keep going and NEVER stop believing.

i love this song. best journey song hands down.

I think this song is defintely about fate, hope, love, and of course, believing. We all want love/thrill/emotion.. and we try to find it, often through lust. we end up not getting it. it's saying just don't stop believing. it will happen someday.

this song is about fate. How two lonley people from two different areas are lookingand waiting for love. Everybody wants emotion(love) but not all of us are that lucky. And for those who arn't that lucky well "Dont stop believin".

Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world She took the midnight train going anywhere

just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit He took the midnight train going anywhere

( Ok so listen up because this is where you have to really start thinking... I solely hope to concey both clearly and simply to you why this song is in my mind, about prostitutes. Yes, hookers, harlots, and whores... To many times people for lack of better words " Judge a book by it's cover". I know that the first couple of lines have confused...

( Ok so listen up because this is where you have to really start thinking... I solely hope to concey both clearly and simply to you why this song is in my mind, about prostitutes. Yes, hookers, harlots, and whores... To many times people for lack of better words " Judge a book by it's cover". I know that the first couple of lines have confused many people, but what the writer really tries to get you to do is create in your mind a character for you to get to understand, and hopefully also sympathies with by the end of the narrative. People will confuse themselves often, as they create the story in their minds with two protagonists for the song, because well they want to think it is about themselves. Though while it is an effective literary technique to put the reader in the story, I believe that this story is ment to be looked at from afar to picture a story of people we will probably never get to know. Now that I have your attention please feel free to re-read the lyrics, I have even provided my own comments on the lines for those who chose to read them ) . . . . . .

A singer in a smoky room The smell of wine and cheap perfume

( when writers tell a story they know that one element of that tale is the setting, the where, the when, and sometimes the why. In the case of these lines the author, as i will call the writer or writers, the author is developing the where, by enlightening multiple of our senses to the setting. The singer gives us something to picture hearing, and maybe even watching as she is providing entertainment. The smoky room gives us something to picture smelling, and again maybe is gives us a visual of smoke in hanging in the air as it often does in a bar. The last line I will leave you to interpret, but i would ask if you try to let your imagination wander.)

For a smile they can share the night It goes on and on and on and on

( Now that the author has developed a setting for us he reintroduces the protagonist [ Prostitute ], and the other character [ male Client ]. And then for whatever reason, destiny or randomness, these two people, which few people on here tend to agree on what method is the right one. Yes the male smiles and yes the pair share the night in whatever ways your imagination can take you. )

Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard Their shadows searching in the night

( Now the author ask us to picture a different setting, note that the protagonist is not necessarily present. The author shows us people on a boulevard probably one that looks much like one you've seen as it is your own creation to imagine. There shadows most typically an ominous symbol in literature describe the setting quite differently than the up beat tempo of the music. This darkness is actually quite a prevalent theme throughout. " Midnight Train", "Shadows searching in the night". )

Hiding somewhere in the night

( These lines tell us about the people in this new scene. The streetlight's depict how they can be found on street corners, where the look for emotion, whether it is happiness because of that they feel nought, or also find sadness, because there possibly self-destructive habits lead them to repeatably find themselves in terrible situations, "On and on and on and on.".

Working hard to get my fill, everybody wants a thrill Paying anything to roll the dice just one more time

( The use of the word my should suggest to the reader that the author is now speaking in first person through the protagonist. She is work hard at prostitution just to get a fill, not a T.V. or Car, like many of us including myself, look forward to saving for. But after all as we have been told many times, prostitution is the oldest profession and, "Everybody wants a thrill". There is a reason why there is a general consensus, that, "Streetlight People" as I like to call them are some of the lowest people. This is because they have said au revoir to there morals and paid the highest price and made the greatest sacrifice in selling the one thing they truly own... their bodies.)

Some will win, some will lose, some were born to sing the blues Oh the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on and on

( Yes some people will win, they will be rich maybe be famous, others will lose as we all have once or twice, and, "Some were born to sing the blue's". And what better music for the author to use to describe the life of a prostitute than the most soulful, most passionate, and often the saddest ever produced. And yes this movie you have imagined for yourself, "Goes on and on and on and on".

Hold on to that feeling Streetlight people

( And the story ends with touching sentiments and a kind high pitched final farewell, to all those Streetlight people that obviously everyone seems to like so much. )

* This is my take of the song, I hope you enjoyed how I tried to connect most every line if not word, but if you still have any questions or if you want to try to rebut me feel free to email me at [email protected] my name is Stephen Graham Hajosy and would love to hear other peoples input to a song that I personally love to sing at the top of my lungs at every home Oregon Ducks football game**

it's just basically telling us that there is that special someone out there for each of us. except i think i would be the one who "sings the blues" as steve perry put it.

Love what Glee did with this. The cover is amazing, and I think it captures all the energy of the original. Wow. This was (and still is) such a FANTASTIC song!

I have always interpreted this song as to the randomness of two souls finding each other. Out of nowhere, completely unexpected, not even looking, but their hearts are open to the possibility. The conclusion of these lyrics is actually the first verse of the song.

The rest is filled with methaphors of the arduous journey, and seemingly hopeless search. It may seem like a lost cause at times, but like the title of the song says, "Don't stop believin'".

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Encore: 'Don't Stop Believin'' goes on and on, because we need it to

Roben Farzad

Cheesy, inspiring and enormously popular, Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" is a song which became an American Anthem long after it was released.

Copyright © 2022 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

JOURNEY - midnight train lyrics

Artist : Journey

Title : midnight train

-----------------

Just a small town girl

Livin' in a lonely world

She took the midnight train going anywhere

Just a city boy

Born and raised in South Detroit

He took the midnight train going anywhere

A singer in a smoken room

The smell of wine and cheap perfume

For a smile they can share the night

It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting

Up and down the boulevard

Their shadows searching in the night

Streetlights people

Living just to find emotion

Hiding, somewhere in the night

Working hard to get my fill

Everybody wants a thrill

Payin' anything to roll the dice

Just one more time

Some will win, some will lose

Some were born to sing the blues

Oh, the movie never ends

Streetlight people

Don't stop believin'

Hold on to the feelin'

woahhh, woahhhh

Ohhh, woahhhh

Hold on to that feelin'

Hold on to that fellin'

Thanks to Andrew Farina for these lyrics

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31 Songs About Trains and Locomotives

Even today, trains are very important for commerce, but they used to be one of the most reliable forms of transportation. You can also make almost limitless metaphors with trains, which makes them perfect for music.

In this article, we’ll look at 31 songs about trains and locomotives and show you that they appear much more often in all-time classics than you might think. 

1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

After this song came out, a midnight train to anywhere became one of the most famous trains in the entire world. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey is an all-time classic for people looking for a way out of their boring lives and who want to get away from everything. If nothing else, the opening verses of this track are some of the best-known ones out there and they include trains, so it’ll count.

2. Long Black Train – Josh Turner

The long black train in this Josh Turner song is really a metaphor for temptation. It’s always coming towards you and could round the bend at any time. The engineer of this one is also stated to be the devil, so not a train you want to hop on. The track is a reminder to hold tight to the Lord and avoid letting temptation trip you up. 

3. You Never Even Called Me By My Name – David Allen Coe

This track from David Allen Coe is one of the best country songs of all time . He spends most of the time comparing himself to other country artists, which turns into a who’s who of the genre. The chorus is one of the best ones out there too, but none of that is why it makes this list.

At the end of the track, he talks about writing the perfect country and western song of all time but rejects what is apparently this track up to that point because it doesn’t mention trains, moms, prison, drugs, or getting drunk. So, an additional verse gets added on that sees him try to pick his mom up from the prison, but she, unfortunately, gets run over by a damned old train.

4. Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne

Hop aboard the Prince of Darkness’s mind-altering train with his song. While it isn’t a physical train, you can surely come along for the ride. Crazy Train is one of his most iconic tracks, but it mainly deals with the fear of total destruction that ran rampant throughout the years of the Cold War . 

5. Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash is a name that’s going to appear several times on this list. He talked about trains quite a bit. But Folsom Prison Blues is one of the most iconic songs he ever released and the perfect example of his music. Most of his instrumentals chugged along just like a train does, with no track sounding like it more than this one. From the opening lines of hearing that train coming and shooting a man just to watch him die, this one is an all-time best in any category. 

6. Night Train – Jason Aldean

The title track of Jason Aldean’s 2012 album, Night Train , is all about a couple of lovers finding the perfect spot to watch a train pass. You know they’re out really late too since the night trains don’t run until the wee hours of the morning to help avoid traffic pileups.

7. Peace Train – Cat Stevens

Peace Train came out in response to the chaos surrounding the Vietnam War . Cat Stevens called it his own anthem for peace, advocating for nonviolent solutions to world issues and hoping for the end of conflicts. It became a standard song for his live shows for a long time and holds an incredibly important message that still resonates today.

Recommended: Songs about the Vietnam war

8. Train Kept a Rollin’ – Aerosmith

Train Kept A Rollin’ started out as a track by Tiny Bradshaw in 1951 , but Aerosmith picked it up and turned it into a massive classic rock song. Throw in a few of their awesome guitar solos, and you’ve got a track about a train chugging along to headbang to. 

9. Midnight Train To Georgia – Gladys Knight & The Pips

Midnight Train To Georgia is an R&B classic. After a man heads out to Los Angeles in search of fame, he realizes it isn’t going his way. He hops on a train going back to his home in Georgia to try to figure out the rest of his life. 

10. Love Train – The O’Jays

Love Train has that soulful enthusiasm that makes it hard to not give your neighbor a hug the next time you see them. It’s another train song that pleads for an end to the Vietnam War and begs for peace. It’s really a groovy version of the many anti-war tracks to come out during that time period. 

11. Last Train Home – Blink-182

Last Train Home sees a defeated man looking for a way home. Their motivations are all gone, and they just want some semblance of hope back in their lives, willing to do anything to find a cause that makes them feel alive. 

12. Wabash Cannonball – Johnny Cash

Wabash Cannonball has the distinction of being the oldest song on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of the 500 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time. Johnny Cash’s version is a cover of an even older folk song about a fictional train called the Wabash Cannonball that ran through the Midwest way back in the early days of America.

13. Midnight Train to Memphis – Chris Stapleton

Trains run on a pretty regular schedule. You can sometimes figure out what time it is just by when a train goes by. Chris Stapleton finds himself stuck in jail for not being able to pay a fine in this song, marking the passing of the days by the midnight train he hears rumbling along on its way to Memphis each night.

14. Locomotive Breath – Jethro Tull

Locomotive Breath is one of Jethro Tull’s most famous songs and was designed to sound just like a chugging train engine. It was written as a comment on population growth, but it would be used in a lot of other media like the film Jumanji and on the TV show Supernatural . 

15. Rock N Roll Train – AC/DC

Rock N Roll Train is an example of AC/DC still having it after decades together as a band. It came out in 2008, rising to the top of a few different Billboard charts and becoming a popular song on TV promos for sports events. 

16. Runaway Train – Soul Asylum

Runaway Train is all about personal depression and how quickly your mental health can get away from you. If you struggle with mental issues, you have to constantly keep working on them or have some sort of control or it’ll take off like a runaway train. The best option is to always find someone to help and learn techniques to keep it under control.

Recommended: Songs about mental health

17. Freight Train – Elizabeth Cotton

Elizabeth Cotten is one of the best guitar players in history , so anything she wrote is going to be worth listening to. Freight Train was inspired by the train rumbling she could hear from her childhood home and how she wondered where it was headed. 

18. The Wreck of The Old 97 – Johnny Cash

You should always tell your loved one that you love them before you walk out the door, especially if your job involves some level of risk. The Wreck Of The Old 97 sees Johnny Cash giving this message to his listeners by telling the story of a man who died in a deadly train crash. 

19. Driver 8 – R.E.M.

Driver 8 is a direct reference to the Southern Crescent route that has operated since 1891. It never became one of R.E.M.’s most popular songs, but that didn’t stop it from being covered by a lot of other artists. 

20. Hear My Train A Comin’ – Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix never recorded this song in a studio, it was one of the tracks he only played live. Eventually, an early piece of it was found and included on one of his compilation albums, but that didn’t happen until the 90s. 

21. Last Train To Clarksville – The Monkees

Last Train To Clarksville sees a young man getting drafted into the Vietnam War and has to deal with all of the emotions that go along with the process. Will he make it home? The Monkees produced the song to add another voice to the protest over the Vietnam War and the draft process the United States used for it. 

22. Casey Jones – Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead used the legend of Casey Jones to create a track about drug use. It sees a conductor high on cocaine driving too fast and heading right toward another train on the track that’s being driven by a sleepy man. They also played the folk song The Ballad Of Casey Jones in shows often, with that track helping inspire this one. 

23. Mystery Train – Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley owns the most popular version of Mystery Train , seeing the narrator take a spooky train ride that seems to be on its way to the land of the dead. Junior Parker was the original writer of the song, releasing it in 1953 , two years before Presley recorded his version of it. 

24. Downtown Train – Tom Waits

Downtown Train is a popular song for artists to record, but Tom Waits was the first one to put it on record. It sees him trying to deal with the pace of living in a big city and looking for a way to be with the woman he loves despite her barely knowing he exists. 

25. Take The A Train – Duke Ellington

Take The A Train would eventually become one of Duke Ellington’s signature songs and one of the tracks he played most in live shows. It was inspired by the route he often had to take through the Harlem district of New York, riding the A-train between destinations. It’s also one of the few tracks with a jazz solo that doesn’t get changed every performance, a rare treat in the genre. 

26. Train of Consequences – Megadeth

Train Of Consequences became one of Megadeth’s biggest songs, serving as the first single from their sixth album and appearing on several of their compilations. Instead of a locomotive, this track is about the consequences of gambling. 

27. Girl On A Train – Skizzy Mars

Girl On A Train sees Skizzy Mars spot a beautiful woman on a train and decides they want to get to know her better. Unfortunately, before they work up the nerve, the girl gets off at a train stop and the love story ends before it ever actually got started. 

28. Stop This Train – John Mayer

Trains don’t stop quickly. They really just keep going as long as they have fuel and feel like something unstoppable. John Mayer compares a train to the unstoppable and ever-driving nature of time in Stop This Train , a song that’s really about wishing time could stop or go backward for a little bit. 

29. The Train – Macklemore Feat. Carla Morrison

One of the least expensive ways to travel is by train. A lot of nomads—especially the digital ones—will use trains to get between cities, especially in Europe where railways have a lot more passenger investment. The Train by Macklemore is from one of those travelers’ perspectives, always far from home and never turning back. 

30. Train of Love – Johnny Cash

Our last entry from the legendary Johnny Cash, Train Of Love was one of the most popular jukebox songs in history. He released it all the way back in 1956. 

31. Shut Up Train – Little Big Town

If you live near train tracks, you eventually get used to the noise. But that can take a while and it can be very annoying, especially when you’re trying to sleep. Shut Up Train by Little Big Town sees the narrator telling a loud train outside to shut up because they’re trying to sleep. They’re stuck dealing with a lot, making it a somber song, but the train is interrupting the small amount of peace they’re getting.

As a contributing writer for Music Grotto, Dakotah writes and produces professional music/media content. He works closely with editorial staff to meet editorial standards and create quality content for the Music Grotto website. Dakotah is passionate about music in a wide variety of genres, from hip-hop to country and lo-fi to metal, and he enjoys creating music pieces for Music Grotto.

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