Train ride
On the rail tracts
trains past one after the other
at speed
and there are crowds
standing on the platform
and people pressing past each other
to get aboard.
I watch the confusion
and on the train
people loose their senses
and they press to seats
right through each other.
A man dressed in a black suit
tries to convert everybody around him
and stand and preach in the aisle,
with the holy book
that he opens at places.
What he is saying
passes me faster
than the scenery at the windows
and I see people unable to forget,
how the city devour their souls
and the man evidently preaches regularly.
Opposite me a man reads the Pretoria News
and a young woman
wants to know the time
while she bends forward
and I am able to see the crevice
between her breasts
and she winks
while the train picks up speed.
“Boy let they just invade my house
and then some shots will ring, ”
an obese man says
who wipes sweat
with a handkerchief from his shining face
and gives biltong
to the people around him.
To the front there’s someone screaming
in a foreign language
and I wonder if someone
is falling from the train
or rather being thrown off,
while the unconcerned conductor
takes the ticket puncher from his pocket.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Trains
Here I am at the end of the day
With a cup of cold coffee
From the station buffet.
On trains, on trains I seem
To spend my life on trains.
See the blue suit banker in the ticket line.
Got an evening standard with playboy
Hidden behind.
On trains, on trains he seems
To spend his life on trains.
Time after time.
Was I just dreaming?
Did I help you aboard?
Full passenger service ---
Let me help with the door.
Sit down take the weight off your feet.
Theres a train full of people Id like
You to meet.
On trains, on trains we love
To spend our lives on trains.
Join the secret world of trains.
Feel the pleasure. touch the pain.
Drift into yesterday.
Once and again
I was just thinking.
We could meet sometime
On the 17.30 where
I usually find
My friends at the end of the day.
May we pay your fare, lady?
We should like you to stay
In our train. on trains ---
Youll have to spend your life
On trains.
I hear theres an office party on the 18.05.
Youll be home for christmas if they
Take you alive from the train.
Those trains, we have to spend our lives
On trains.
Once and again
I was just thinking.
We could meet any time
On number two platform
Where I usually find
My friends at the end of the day.
On trains, trains, trains.
song performed by by Jethro Tull
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Train Leaving the Station
It starts slow, works hard, to pull the wight
Of all the freight
Train
Of thoght
So slow don't know if it will leave the station
At all,
Ever
Now
Or if it has left before
People have sat in front of this train
Wondering where it will go
The long hours it plows from city to city
From coast to coast
What is my destination?
What do you read in my face?
The freights are old
This train belongs to the people of the city
Graffiti
A familiar face
A shout out to let you know that
I am here
The people are here
This train belongs to the people of the city
poem by Jacquelyn Rocha
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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This Train Keeps Rolling Along
All aboard in montreal
I heard the conductor call
That old engine heaved a sigh
Suitcases and shuffling feet
I found my way to a windo seat
I love to watch the world go by
Made friends with a family
Bound for sault ste marie
They said good bye at sudbury junction
Guess I hated to see em go
Thought about em as it started to snow
Time stops for nothing or no one
This train keeps rollin along
From here to the great beyond
Black somke, pistons churn
Steel rails, big wheels turn
This train keeps rolling along
Across the endless plrairie land
Mighty buffalo used to stand
The cree and the blackfoot lived and died
? ? ? the rockies, nestled in the trees,
I fell in love with lake louise
Smiling with her sparkling emerald eyes
Soon well reach the sea
And there Ill stand
With nothing but the blue between me and japan
Now Im at the end of the line,
Out of track, out of time,
Conductor makes his final round
All the people and places past
They went by just a little too fast
How I wishi couldve slowed this engine down.
This train keeps rollin along
From here to the great beyond
Black somke, pistons churn
Steel rails, big wheels turn
This train keeps rolling along
song performed by by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Right Track Wrong Train
The train was leaving at 10 after 10
I got to the station just in time to check in
Ive been bumpin my bags all around
Im trying hard to never knock people down
But I can see I left a few on the ground
And as the train pulls away I can hear the conductor say
Right track wrong train (echoes)
Right track wrong train (echoes)
Im not to blame (echo)
Right track wrong train... train
I read my schedule but my train wasnt there
I re-read my ticket, it said going nowhere
Everybody had the same tatooed face
All the women and men dressed in lace
I think I gotta get out of this place
I shouldve got off before the engineer locked the door
Right track wrong train (echoes)
Right track wrong train (echoes)
Im not to blame (echo)
Right track wrong train, train train train hey !
Hey thats a neat tatoo youre wearing. by the way whered you get it ?
Uh huh. say, is this an express train ? uh huh.
Snack bar ? uh huh. uh huh.
Something is happening so familiar to me
Is this the outer limits like on tv ?
Another empty town fading to gray
Another coca-cola sign on the way
Have a cup of coffee, have a nice day
And as the train pushes on,
Were headed for babylon
Oh no...
Right track wrong train (echoes)
Right track wrong train (echoes)
Right track wrong train...
On the wrong train on the right track
We dont know if shell ever come back
(talking) what train is this ?
Something is happening so familiar to me
Is this the outer limits like on tv ?
Have a cup of coffee, have a nice day (talking)
Yeah, yeah Ill be right there yeah. Im gonna get the next train yeah.
song performed by by Cyndi Lauper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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No rush
I waited on the subway platform
and listened to a young woman
play acoustic guitar and sing
her face was round and her eyes
were wide with hope, she delicately played
as her voice draped over the
passing trains, her song kept pouring
soon there was a small crowd around her
watching her thick black braided hair swing
with the melody of her sounds
she made me forget about my train
I smiled at her soft pale face
and gave her a buck
several other people followed
and she played harder
her voice grew louder
and more trains passed
nobody got on
nobody cared
and nobody looked at their watches
we had cornered an angel
and we didn't want to let go
she stopped and took a small bow
and put away her guitar
the crowd thinned out
and my train pulled up
I looked at her one last time
she smiled and counted her dollars
I boarded the train and hummed
her songs all the way home
poem by Charles Lara
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Cross-tie Walker
I went down to the station, just to take a ride.
I went down to the station, just to take a ride.
Found myself on a flatcar, yesterday behind.
Pullin out from the platform, there was no brass band.
I pulled out from the platform, nobody raised a hand.
And there were no tears of regret from my runaway train.
Train, train, train, train.
Got no sand in my pocket, you know I aint tied down.
Aint no sand in my pocket, never do sit down.
Im just a cross-tie walker, where the freight trains run.
Run, run, run, run.
If you see me acomin, dont you waste my time.
If you see me acomin, dont you waste my time.
cause theres more miles between us than the santa fe line.
Run, run, run, run.
Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm....
song performed by by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Joy on the Trains at Jubilee Time
At the station, the platform is packed.
Soon our train is heading down the track.
As our London-bound train slowly approaches,
I am surprised by the evident lack of coaches.
The ensuing rush to get on, is all rather manic.
The Guard blows his whistle and everyone panics.
Upon the platform, there's soon no one left,
But many new passengers are out of breath.
Once onboard, there is standing room only:
There's certainly no chance of being lonely.
Of vacant seats, I see there is a major lack,
So I stand, holding on to the luggage rack.
Some people are huddled up by the doors,
Whilst others plump for a seat on the floor.
At the next station, they don't release all the doors:
Our already packed train can only take a few more.
By the time that our train reaches Woking,
It's a real nightmare - I wish I was joking,
But passengers are left abandoned on the platform:
Their faces disappointed, they all look so forlorn.
I overhear a number of passengers complain
About the distinct lack of carriages on our train.
During my journey, I spend most of my time
Thinking up sentences which, nicely, rhyme.
By the time our train pulls in to Waterloo,
With my new poem, I am almost through.
We're ten minutes late and the Guard explains
This was due to passengers boarding the train.
When I head home again, it is getting quite late.
And the number of carriages now totals eight.
No one is standing: everybody has a seat.
I travel home in comfort. Oh, what a treat!
poem by Angela Wybrow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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People Need People
People need people to
Put up shelves
To be themselves
And to laugh with
To unblock blocked toilets
To make their sandwhiches
And watch T.V with
People need people
To live with
To argue and forgive with
And to agree to disagree
To have something
To have someone from which to break free!
People need people to
Be quiet
To stage a riot
To eat fish with
Or afternoon tea
To have someone from somewhere to break free from
People need people
To rush with
To crush with
In the first train in
And the last train home
People need people
For someone to be with
To been seen with
And for having a reason for being alone
People need people to sing with
To cry with and die with
To sigh say goodbye with
People need people to get lost in
That early morning frost in the throng
To have someone to fight with
To kiss goodnight with
To simply have somewhere to belong!
And not to belong
After all people need people, big, fat thin, tall, and very small,
People need people that's a fact,
And that's that, and that's all!
poem by Yvette Smith
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Train Of Gold
I saw her there from across the street, she was dressed in black
And when she moved she moved to a beat, like a cadillac
She rode a train, train train train, a train of gold
She was a woman of suspicious ways, never saw daylight
And in her room she sat and passed the days
And shed creep out at night
She rode a train, train train train, a train of gold
Chorus: train of gold, train of gold
It took me so long to find out I was wrong
Now I wait for her in the night
Looked through a window saw a velvet sky, a shade of green
A violin was playing soft and sweet, like it was a dream
She rode a train, train train train, a train of gold
Train of gold, train of gold
It took me so long to find out I was wrong
Now I wait for her in the night
Train of gold, train of gold
I dont believe her, it just couldnt be her
I cant get it out of my mind
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Love Train
People all over the world
Join hands
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world
Join hands
Get on the love train, love train
The first stop that well make
Will be england
Tell all the folks in russia,
In china, too (get on board)
Dont you know
Its time to get on board
(its time to get on board)
Let this train keep on ridin,
Ridin on through
Ridin on through
People all over the world
Join hands
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world
Join hands
Get on the love train, love train
All of you brothers
Over in africa (come on now, people)
Tell all the folks in egypt,
In israel, too
Please dont miss this train
At the station
cause if you miss it,
I feel sorry, sorry for you
Sorry for you
People all over the world
Join hands
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world
Join hands
Get on the love train, love train
People all over the world
Join hands
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world
Join hands
Get on the love train, love train
People all over the world
(repeat with following ad lib)
Start it up, start it up
Come on, people
Were gonna ride, ride
Sisters and brothers, come on
Start a love train
(repeat and fade with ad lib)
song performed by by Hall & Oates
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Railroad Station
JUST a very common thing -
Shouts and whistles, bells that ring,
Just a platform in the rain
And a slowly moving train;
Just a woman dressed in black
Standing by a station-hack,
Gazing with her eyes profound
As the train goes outward bound;
And her bearing does not say
Who it is that goes away,
One who made her pulses stir,
Or a guest who wearied her.
poem by Alice Duer Miller
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Last Train To Trancentral
All aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho
All aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho
Others need the vibes
Last train of the fast train, destination general
Thoughts that seem to draw me
Heading for trancentral
Still Im seeking something
And some things I am seeking
In the carriage on the fast train
Of the last train to trancenteal
Weve been waiting for years
And now its here
Last train to trancentral
Take the last train
From sample city, on the downtown line
Last train to trancentral
Last train
Others need the vibes
A brand new day is dawning
A light that will annoint thee
A sign from the subconcious
An angel sent to guide me
The searching will be over
The call will now be gentle
In the carriage on the fast train
Of the last train to trancentral
The klf will take you there
Last train to trancentral (its the last train)
The liberation loophole will make it clear...
On last train to trancentral (last train)
This is what klf is about
Also known as the justified ancients of mu mu
Furthermore known as the jams
One time!
Take the last train
Last train
All aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho
All aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho
Others need the vibes
Whoooo
Others need the vibes
Whoooo
Others need the vibes
Last train or the fast train,
My destinations general
The thoughts that seem to draw me
Headin downtown for trancentral
Still Im seeking something
And theres something that Im seeking
In a carriage on the fast train
Of the last train to trancentral
The klf will take you there
Last train to trancentral (take the last train)
The liberation loophole will make it clear
On last train to trancentral (last train)
(take the last train) [[[continuous chant over following text]]]
(all aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho) [[[continuous chant over following text]]]
Yeah, theres only one place Im living, man...
Im going into trancentral where I can,
You understand, liberate and free the psyche.
You know, banish my mind and my body
cause this way I dont know whether Im in the future or the present...
Is this the beginning or the ending?
Although I know that things are incidental
The landscape may have to be accidental
Im still in a carriage
On the fast train,of the last train, to trancentral
Over an out
song performed by by KLF
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Last Train To Trancentral (Mu D. Vari-Speed Version)
All aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho
All aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho
Others need the vibes
Last train of the fast train, destination general
Thoughts that seem to draw me
Heading for Trancentral
Still i'm seeking something
And some things I am seeking
In the carriage on the fast train
Of the last train to trancenteal
We've been waiting for years
And now it's here
Last train to Trancentral
Take the last train
From Sample City, on the downtown line
Last train to Trancentral
Last train
Others need the vibes
A brand new day is dawning
A light that will annoint thee
A sign from the subconcious
An angel sent to guide me
The searching will be over
The call will now be gentle
In the carriage on the fast train
Of the last train to Trancentral
The KLF will take you there
Last train to Trancentral (it's the last train)
The Liberation Loophole will make it clear...
On last train to Trancentral (last train)
This is what KLF is about
Also known as the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu
Furthermore known as the JAMS
One time!
Take the last train
Last train
All aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho
All aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho
Others need the vibes
Whoooo
Others need the vibes
Whoooo
Others need the vibes
Last train or the fast train,
My destination's general
The thoughts that seem to draw me
Headin' downtown for Trancentral
Still I'm seeking something
And there's something that I'm seeking
In a carriage on the fast train
Of the last train to Trancentral
The KLF will take you there
Last train to Trancentral (take the last train)
The Liberation Loophole will make it clear
On last train to Trancentral (last train)
(Take the last train) <<[continuous chant over following text]>>
(All aboard, all aboard, a-woah-ho) <<[continuous chant over following text]>>
Yeah, there's only one place I'm living, man...
I'm going into Trancentral where I can,
You understand, liberate and free the psyche.
You know, banish my mind and my body
'Cause this way I don't know whether I'm in the future or the present...
Is this the beginning or the ending?
although I know that things are incidental
the landscape may have to be accidental
I'm still in a carriage
on the fast train,of the last train, to Trancentral
Over an Out
song performed by by KLF
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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(Waiting For) The Ghost Train
A straw headed woman, and a barrel chested man,
A pocket full of posies with a hat brim full of sand,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
A dog chasing the tumbleweeds, across the sandy floor,
That drift along the platform, through the ticket office door,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
But don't tell me there's nothing coming, you don't fool me,
I hear the ghost train rumbling along the tracks - set them free,
And I hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
The station master's writing with a piece of orange chalk,
A hundred cancellations, still no one wants to walk,
Keep the hungry children from the skeletons in the back,
Paid to keep an eye out for the gipsy caravan,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
I hear the ghost train rumbling along the tracks - set them free,
And I hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white (don't try),
It's black and white (don't try),
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
And I hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide
song performed by by Madness
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Ghost Train
A straw headed woman, and a barrel chested man,
A pocket full of posies with a hat brim full of sand,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
A dog chasing the tumbleweeds, across the sandy floor,
That drift along the platform, through the ticket office door,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
But don't tell me there's nothing coming, you don't fool me,
I hear the ghost train rumbling along the tracks - set them free,
And i hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
The station master's writing with a piece of orange chalk,
A hundred cancellations, still no one wants to walk,
Keep the hungry children from the skeletons in the back,
Paid to keep an eye out for the gipsy caravan,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
Ooh - waiting for the train that never comes,
I hear the ghost train rumbling along the tracks - set them free,
And i hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white (don't try),
It's black and white (don't try),
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
And i hear them,
It's black and white don't try to hide,
It's black and white don't try to hide...
song performed by by Madness
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Eastbound Train
It was New Cross Station, I was going on home
Saw you get your ticket, standing on your own
Here come the train about 02:44
I couldn't get a smoker, you took another car
Yeah, the end of the line, we both had to change,
And you're standing right behind me,
I'm a feeling kinda strange
We got to Mile End Road, my heart skipped a beat,
Standing right behind me, I'm a shakin' in my seat
3-4 minutes and the train comes through,
I'm ridin' on the Central, I'm a-lookin' at you.
Woman on the eastbound train,
Sometimes I wanna see you again.
Now I couldn't read a paper, you couldn't read a book,
Kept on taking me another look,
You got off the train, you never looked behind
I tried, but I can't get you out of my mind.
Woman on the eastbound train,
Sometimes I wanna see you again.
Well I got one more thing I wanna say before I go
If you get the message on the radio
You can write a letter, get in touch with me,
Leave your number with the company, yeah.
Woman on the eastbound train,
Sometimes I wanna see you again.
song performed by by Dire Straits
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man
(traditional)
Good morning, mr. railroad man
What time do your trains roll by ?
"at 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes 'till 5"
"at 9:16 and 2:44 and 25 minutes 'till 5"
Thank you, mr. railroad man
I want to watch your trains go by
Standing on a platform, smoking a cheap cigar
And waiting for an old freight train that carries an empty car
Well, i pulled my hat down over my eyes
And i walked across the tracks
And i caught me the end of an old freight train
And i never did come back
Well, i sat down in a gamblin' game
But i could not play my hand
I was thinkin' about the woman i loved
Run away with another man, poor boy
Run away with another man
I was thinking about the woman that i loved
Run away with another man
song performed by by Ry Cooder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One Way Ticket To Heaven
I've got a one way ticket to heaven
On the glory train
I'm taking a trip to the promise Land
I'm never coming back again I made my resurrection
Long long ago
So when the conductor says all aboard
I would be ready to go I sent in for my tickets
Away ahead of time
So when the train pulled out from the station
I wouldn't be left behind I won't take any luggage
But that will be all right
When I get to Heaven
I'll wear my robe of white I hear that train coming
I hear her whistle blow
I've got a one way ticket to heaven
and I am ready to go
poem by Freda Lee Jackson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Alone on holiday away from you
White, red and yellow lilies
grow rampant and wild
next to the train tracts
between Somerset West
and the Strand
where I am on the train
from Bellville
and there’s a
white-hot sun that burns
high from above
and I can smell the sea
while I look
at the magical
dark blue water,
but you will not like
the cold water
and the light breeze
that blows today
and here and there
there are people
sending kites
into the air
and I see them
hanging flapping above
while a few
diving down with speed
and there’s sandpaper
in the beach wind
that hits me with sea sand
and the waves
rollick like wild horses
and in the distance
I see the road turning
past Gordonsbay
and I am alone on holiday
away from you.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Watching The World Go Past
I sit on the front step
Just watching the world go past
People walking
People talking
I see people running from themselves
People walking their best friends
Children playing with others hearts
Teenage girls crying over the past
I just and watch the sun set
Signalling that a new day will begin soon
I watch the rising of the moon
And the dots getting ever so brighter
Watch people fall in love
People smile as if nothings wrong
I watch all the people who have nothing to do
Watching people who have nothing to loose
I sit and watch the different lives form
Watching the new scene starting
The new lives beginning with a smile
The lives coming to and end
I sit on the front step
Just watching the world go past
People walking
People talking
poem by Lesley Bass
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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