Hello, Bob Coltman,

Thanks for posting the comments that "Maybe the train, seen as the release from a hard life, seemed to be a hard one to catch, or to be allowed to board...And being saved was the key. The line "None can ride but the sanctified" is typical of several songs' viewpoint, so the religious connection is plainly foremost".

The comment about the train as a release from a hard life etc. adds a new dimension to my ideas about the meaning of trains in spirituals.

Btw, having nothing earthshaking to do today, I was thinking about how many religious songs I knew and wondering what other songs folks here knew that mentioned or alluded to trains and chariots.

"Death's Black Train" is one I didn't list as reading your thread was the first time I ever "heard" about that particular song.

So I'm taking your post as confirmation that others might be interested in a thread on the subject of religious chariots & trains.

I'll refer folks to this thread and the discussion about the "people keep comin and the train done gone" line.

And I hope you don't mind that I plan to include a repost of your comment on that new thread.

Thanks again!

Best wishes,

Azizi