Long Black Train (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Long Black Train" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Single by Josh Turner | ||||
| from the album Long Black Train | ||||
| B-side | "Backwoods Boy" | |||
| Released | July 29, 2003 | |||
| Format | CD single, 7" single, digital download | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 4:10 (album version) | |||
| Label | MCA Nashville | |||
| Writer(s) | Josh Turner | |||
| Producer | Mark Wright, Frank Rogers | |||
| Certification | Gold (RIAA) | |||
| Josh Turner singles chronology | ||||
|
||||
"Long Black Train" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music singer Josh Turner. It was released in July 2003 as the second single from his debut album of the same name. Having spent more than thirty weeks on the Billboard country charts, "Long Black Train" reached a peak of #13 in early 2004.
Contents |
[edit] Content
"Long Black Train" is a mid-tempo song, featuring acoustic guitar and fills from steel guitar and fiddle. Using a funeral train as a metaphor,[1] the lyrics tell of resisting temptation from the Devil, who is "drivin' that long black train". Turner also sings of finding redemption in the chorus:
- There's vict'ry in the Lord, I say
- Vict'ry in the Lord
- Cling to the Father and His holy name
- And don't go ridin' on that long black train
[edit] Critical reception
Steve Leggett of Allmusic said of the song, "sung in Turner's deep voice, it rolls across country radio like nothing else on the scene, the ominous breath of hellfire in the lyrics conjuring up the ghost of Johnny Cash."[1] Hank Kalet of PopMatters also described the song favorably: "It is a proudly religious song, almost fiery, defiant."[2]
[edit] Music video
The music video for this song was shot in a few different locations along a railroad track. The various shots of Turner include him walking though a tunnel, standing on the tracks singing, and from above while he is playing guitar. The video features various characters, all of whom are struggling with drugs, alcohol, pregnancy, or other issues, and are shown on the train tracks as well. While some disappear after the train goes by (indicating that they gave into temptation and "got on"), others stand firm and breathe a sigh of relief as the train goes by (meaning that they are free from their issue.)
The video was shot at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and featured ex-Army Class Consolidation #610 as the locomotive.
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 72 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Leggett, Steve. "Long Black Train review". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:avftxqlaldte. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ Kalet, Hank. "Long Black Train review". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/t/turnerjosh-longblack.shtml. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
|
|||||||||||
