Album: Having a Rave Up With the Yardbirds (1965)

License This Song 

• I caught the train, I met a dame,
  She was a hipster, well and a real cool dame,
  (She was handsome,)
  She was pretty, from New York City,
  Well and we trucked on down in that old Fairlane,
  (Goin' on,)
  With a heave, and a ho,
  
  Well, I just couldn't let her go.
  (Yes I did,)
  Get along, sweet little woman, get along,
  Be on your way,
  Get along, sweet little woman, get along,
  Be on your way,
  With a heave, and a ho,
  (Love the way you walk,)
  I just couldn't let her go.
  (Yes I do now.)
  
  Well, the train kept a-rollin', all night long,
  (Sweet little woman, get along,)
  The train kept a-rollin', all night long,
  ([You're my queen?])
  The train kept a-rollin', all night long,
  (Sweet little woman, get along,)
  The train kept a-rollin', all night long,
  (You're my queen?)
  With a heave, and a ho,
  (Love the way you walk,)
  Well I just couldn't let her go,
  (Yes I do.)
  
  We made a stop at Albuquerque,
  She must have thought I was a real gone jerk,
  We got out the train in El Paso,
  Lookin' so good, Jack, I couldn't let her go.
  Get along, sweet little woman, get along,
  (Oh, right,)
  
  Well, the train kept a-rollin', all night long,
  The train kept a-rollin', all night long,
  The train kept a-rollin', all night long,
  The train kept a-rollin', all night long,
  With a heave, and a ho,
  Well I just couldn't let her go. Writer/s: Howie Kay, Lois Mann, Tiny Bradshaw
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

• Willie from ScottsdaleA few points to clear: Jimmy and the fellas played the song throughout their first tours of the U.S. in 1968 and 1969. It was one of the few songs they all knew how to play (it's relatively easy). The song was also probably played during the club tour of the U.K., so "Communication Breakdown" was fully developed far sooner than their first BBC performances.
• D. R. from Okc, OkMcCarty's high hat work on the Rave Up version of this is amazing, like he does on "I Wish You Would".
• Vtpcnk from Chennia, Indiathere are two guitar solos in the song. the first one by jeff beck and the second one by jimmy page. so this song is unique for that. but contrary to claims the song "stroll on" by jeff beck is a totally different song - apparently only the riff is the same.
• Derek from Shrewsbury, Maaerosmiths version is better in my opinion
• Alec Thorp from Yorktown Heights, NyAerosmith's version is a playable song on Rock Band.
  
• Dan from Harrisburg, PaHere is a link to a video of the Yardbird's 1966 performance of "Train Kept a-Rollin".
  
  http://stage6.divx.com/My-Taste-in-Music/video/1288028/Yardbirds---Train-Kept-A-Rollin-(1966)
  
  Check out Jimmy's cool outfit ... Enjoy!
• Dan from Harrisburg, PaBelow is a link to an excellent Rolling Stone article by Mikal Gilmore. The article describes (among many other Led Zeppelin facts) that "Train Kept a-Rollin'" was the first song that Bonham, Jones, Page and Plant played in their very first session together. This song and the talents of four gifted artists are the genesis of Led Zeppelin.
  
  Please click on the link below, to read Mikal Gilmore's article.
  
  http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11027261/the_long_shadow_of_led_zeppelin/
• Alan from London, Englandmemphis slim, I don't know if I'd call the song bad luck just becuase it was played at their last concert. It was also played at a lot of their concerts when they were starting out and you could argue that if not for the train kept a' rollin' they would have never got their baloon off the ground? just a theory--not necessarily what I believe but food for thought and conversation.
• Nick from Moncton, CanadaWhat do you think those riffs come from? Chords! Buddy probably ment improvising over the chord progression done by the riff
• Warrinder from A Town, CanadaPage improvised with the chords? There are no chords, the entire rhythm is a riff.
• Sean from Colorado Springs, CoOdd thing.. they also performed it at their last ever concert in Berlin in 1980.
  
  Consider this song bad luck perhaps? :P
• Memphisslim from Streamwood, IlJimmy Page also covered this song with Led Zeppelin during the group's first live BBC performance. During that performance Page improvised with the chords that would later become part of the signature riff and solo for "Communication Breakdown"

More Songfacts:

Bad GirlsDonna Summer

Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" is about prostitutes, but it was still used in the movie Rugrats In Paris.

I Melt With YouModern English

"I'll Melt With You" by Modern English is about a couple who melt together because a nuclear bomb drops.

Tomorrow PeopleZiggy Marley & the Melody Makers

"Tomorrow People" by Ziggy Marley is the first song by a Marley to crack the US Top 40; the highest Bob got was #51 with "Roots, Rock, Reggae."

AqualungJethro Tull

Jethro Tull lead singer Ian Anderson wrote "Aqualung" after looking at pictures of homeless men that his wife took. She got a co-writing credit on the song.

A Moment Like ThisKelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson's coronation song when she won American Idol in 2002 was "A Moment Like This," which was released as her first single and went to #1. Every finalist that season recorded the song in case they won.

Highway to HellAC/DC

The "Highway To Hell" is the Canning Highway in Australia, which seems to go on forever, at least according to AC/DC.

Editor's Picks

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.