Hi meself

It still seems very strange symbolism to me - if they meant what you say then that surely means they think that anyone who hasn't already "been saved" as they saw it, never can or will be "saved" - which would surely be a message of there being no hope.

I thought African American spirituals, especially the ones using train symbolism, were usually meant to offer hope of a way out of their suffering to those singing them, not to deny all hope to them! If the early singers of the song saw it that way, as a song that denied all hope, then I don't understand how it could have caught on and become so popular (despite its catchy tune and rhythm).

Dave