Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath

According to Wikipedia: “Locomotive Breath“ is a song by the English progressive rock band Jethro Tull from their 1971 album, Aqualung. It is notable for a long bluesy piano introduction (particularly during live performances) and its flute solo by flautist Ian Anderson. The lyrics use the imagery of an impending and unavoidable train wreck as an allegorical portrayal of a man’s life falling apart. The song receives frequent airplay on classic rock radio stations. It was covered by Rabbitt on their 1975 album Boys Will Be Boys, by . on the reissue of their 1989 album The Headless Children (as a bonus track), Styx on their 2005 album Big Bang Theory, and Helloween on their 1999 album Metal Jukebox. A Swedish rock band, formed in 1995 by Janne Stark, takes its name from the song. The term “locomotive breath“ ostensibly refers to the steam ejected from a steam locomotive’s pistons, which provided a characteristic foggy atmosphere and metallic odor to 19th-century train station platforms. Lyrics: In the shuffling madness Of the locomotive breath Runs the all time loser Headlong to his death He feels the pistons scraping Steam breaking on his brow Old Charlie stole the handle and The train it won’t stop going No way to slow down He sees his children jumping off At the stations one by one His woman and his best friend In bed and having fun He’s crawling down the corridor On his hands and knees Old Charlie stole the handle and The train it won’t stop going No way to slow down, yeah He hears the silence howling Catches angels as they fall And the all time winner Has got him by the balls He picks up Gideons Bible Open at page one God He stole the handle and The train won’t stop going No way to slow down