Locomotive Breath

Words & Music:

Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)

 

[basic riff for verses:  Em    G    D]

 

In the shuffling madness of the locomotive breath.

Em                  G D  B               D

Runs the all-time loser, headlong to his death.

He feels the piston scraping, steam breaking on his brow.

    G                 A              B                    D

Old Charlie stole the handle and the train, it won't stop going.

            [back to riff]

No way to slow down, o-oh.

 

He sees his children jumping off at the stations one by one.

His woman and his best friend, in bed and having fun.

Oh, he's crawling down the corridor on his hands and knees.

Old Charlie stole the handle and the train won't stop going.

No way to slow down, hey-ey.

 

He hears the silence howling, catches angels as they fall.

And the all time winner has got him by the balls.

He picks up Gideon's Bible, open at page one.

God, he stole the handle and the train won't stop going.

No way to slow down.  No way to slow down.

No way to slow down.  No way to slow down.