Mr. Tinkertrain

Album: No More Tears (1991)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is about the sexual assault of a little girl, from first taking the child, to the action. The assailant bribes the child to come to him for sweets and excites her with fantasies of toys and happiness, making a sick reference to male body parts with the line, "toys you've never seen." Once the girl is in his control, he won't let her go.
  • "Mr. Tinkertrain" can be interpreted as the name given to the assaulter, as he appears to be so nice but goes with bad intentions from child to child like a train.
  • Written with his guitarist, Zakk Wylde, and drummer, Randy Castillo, "Mr. Tinkertrain" is the opening track on Ozzy's sixth solo album, No More Tears. Dating back to his Black Sabbath days, Ozzy's songs are often tinged with evil, which became his trademark (the "Prince of Darkness"). The album as a whole is more personal, with songs reflecting his newfound sobriety, but it's balanced with songs like this one that stay on brand.

Comments: 10

  • Mark from NcI see this as eye opening for the young ladies listening to his music. He is giving the fair warning about what's in these rich men's heads and what to watch out for because women are naive at such an early age. If one picks up on it then she will teach her daughter and he daughter will teach her daughter the dangers of promises made. Ozzy was famous at calling out the evil ones while looking like he's evil. The true light hides in the darkness. Ozzy is sympbolic. This song may actually saved women's lives.
  • Rae Rae 1971 from Dayton Oh.I always thought this was about child predator Albert Fish... He was one sick fu$#
  • Johnnie Rocker from Woodstock New YorkThere isn't...and never was...a place called Mr. Tinkertrains bar in Bearsville, NY. When Ozzy and the band were recording No More Tears they used to hang out in the now defunct Tinker Street Cafe down the street from Bearsville in Woodstock, NY. This is where the name of this song came from. This is the absolute truth.
  • AnonymousThere's no controversy
    Cause the was basically a fab
    That fell by the waste side
    With all the failed law suites
    And government people looking dumb with false accusations

    All that did was give bad publicity to the Dems and repub Parties
    And give big exposure to the attacked artist
  • Mr. Doubt from ArgentinaWho actually wrote the lyrics? Ozzy or Zakk? The fact that this song deals with child rape without being criticised has always caught my attention, as well as the fact that it has not raised any controversy.
  • Greg Cain from Birmingham Alaf--kinbamaThe only thing that's missing in this song is the son of a b**** getting skinned alive for doing it to that little girl that would be a super badass ending. Either way it makes you think about the evil in this world.
  • Ozzgod from MnThis song is so incredible on so many countless angles i would not even know where to begin.
  • Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation'Mr. Tinkertrain' was named after Mr. Tinkertrains bar in Bearsville, NY.
  • Crazyc63312 from Pittsburgh, PaThis song is just plain creepy!
  • Robert from Atlanta, GaNo More Tears is actually Ozzy's 3rd album that does not refer to evil or insanity in the title. The other two are Tribute and Just Say Ozzy
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