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Downbound Train Lyrics by Chuck Berry

Anthology

0

[Verse 1]
A stranger lying on a bar room floor
Had drank so much he could drink no more
So he fell asleep with a troubled brain
To dream that he rode on that downbound train

[Verse 2]
The engine with blood was sweaty and damp
And brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp
And imps for fuel was shoveling bones
While the furnace rang with a thousand groans

[Verse 3]
The boiler was filled with lager beer
The devil himself was the engineer
The passengers were most a motley crew
Some were foreigners and others he knew
Rich men in broadcloth, beggars in rags
Handsome young ladies and wicked old hags

[Verse 4]
As the train rushed on at a terrible pace
Sulphuric fumes scorched their hands and face
Wider and wider the country grew
Faster and faster the engine flew
Louder and louder the thunder crashed
Brighter and brighter the lightning flashed
Hotter and hotter the air became
Till their clothes were burned and they were screaming with pain
Then out of the distance, there came a yell
"Ha ha", said the devil, "We're nearing home"
Oh how the passengers shrieked with pain
And begged old Satan to stop that train

[Verse 5]
The stranger awoke with an anguished cry
His clothes wet with sweat and his hair standing high
He fell on his knees on the bar room floor
And prayed a prayer like never before
And the prayers and vows were not in vain
For he never rode that downbound train
Credits
Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry

About “Downbound Train” by Chuck Berry

Read the complete lyrics to "Downbound Train" by Chuck Berry from the album "Anthology". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under In English, USA, Rock.

"Downbound Train" is performed by Chuck Berry. from the album "Anthology" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Downbound Train", explore more songs by Chuck Berry using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Chuck Berry · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Downbound Train" is credited to Chuck Berry. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Downbound Train" appears on "Anthology".

Visit the Chuck Berry artist page at /artist/chuck-berry for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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