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. 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:

Come On EileenDexys Midnight Runners

Dexys Midnight Runners' "Come on Eileen" is based on a real girl called Eileen that the band's Kevin Rowland had a relationship with in his early teenage years.

Hey Ya!OutKast

Andre 3000 played all the instruments on Outkast's "Hey Ya" except bass. Aaron Mills from Cameo played that.

Touch MeThe Doors

At the end of the Doors song "Touch Me," Jim Morrison chants, "Stronger than dirt!" The line is from an Ajax commercial where a white knight rides around destroying dirt.

Only Wanna Be With YouHootie & the Blowfish

"Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie & the Blowfish is a tribute to Bob Dylan, but Dylan sued them over it for using lyrics from his song "Idiot Wind."

Pretty In PinkThe Psychedelic Furs

"Pretty In Pink" by Psychedelic Furs was released in 1981. Five years later, it inspired a movie of the same name starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer. The song was remixed for the re-release to have more pop appeal.

Heart Of GlassBlondie

"Heart of Glass" was Blondie's first foray into disco, which turned off some fans. Debbie Harry said they did it because they "wanted to be uncool."

Editor's Picks

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."