☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a train journey and symbolizes the progress and continuation of life.
- The narrator observes the world passing by outside and encounters various passengers.
- There is mention of endless prairie landscapes that were once inhabited by buffaloes and indigenous peoples.
- The song lyrics express a certain melancholy as the narrator realizes that time passes relentlessly.
- The train symbolizes the unstoppable advance of life that cannot be halted.
Interpretation
The song lyrics "This Train Keeps Rolling Along" by
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is about a train journey and symbolizes the progress and continuation of life. The narrator boards the train in Montreal and observes the world passing by outside. It tells of encounters with other passengers, such as a family bidding farewell to him at Sudbury Junction. The journey continues through endless prairie landscapes, where once the mighty buffalo and the Cree and Blackfoot tribes lived. The narrator falls in love with the sight of Lake Louise with its sparkling emerald eyes.
The song lyrics also express a certain melancholy, as at the end of the train journey, the narrator realizes that time passes relentlessly. He wishes the journey and the encounters had happened more slowly. The train symbolizes the unstoppable progression of life that cannot be stopped. The words "This train keeps rolling along" are repeated several times, emphasizing the unstoppable nature of life.
The song lyrics of "This Train Keeps Rolling Along" remind us that life is a journey that keeps going, no matter how much we sometimes wish to stop it. We must keep our eyes open and appreciate the beauty and encounters that we come across on this journey.