| "Long Black Train" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byJosh Turner | ||||
| from the albumLong Black Train | ||||
| B-side | "Backwoods Boy" | |||
| Released | May 19, 2003 (2003-05-19) | |||
| Genre | Country[1] | |||
| Length | 4:10 (album version) | |||
| Label | MCA Nashville | |||
| Songwriter | Josh Turner | |||
| Producers | Mark Wright,Frank Rogers | |||
| Josh Turner singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Long Black Train" is a song written and recorded by Americancountry music singerJosh Turner. It was released in May 2003 as the second single and title track from his debut album of thesame name. Having spent more than 30 weeks on theBillboard country charts, "Long Black Train" reached a peak of #13 in early 2004. On April 23, 2018, it was certified as two-times Platinum by the RIAA.
"Long Black Train" is a mid-tempo song featuring acoustic guitar, fills from pedabro and fiddle, and a percussive rhythm reminiscent of asteam locomotive in motion. Using afuneral train as ametaphor,[2] the lyrics tell of resisting temptation from theDevil.
Turner toldThe Boot that the song was inspired by a vision that he had of a long, black train running down a track in the middle of nowhere. Turner said, "I could see people standing out to the sides of this track watching this train go by. As I was walking, experiencing this vision, I kept asking myself, 'What does this vision mean and what is this train?' It dawned on me that this train was a physical metaphor for temptation. These people are caught up in the decision of whether or not to go on this train".[3]
Steve Leggett ofAllmusic said of the song, "sung in Turner's deep voice, it rolls across country radio like nothing else on the scene, the ominous breath of hellfire in the lyrics conjuring up the ghost ofJohnny Cash."[2] Hank Kalet ofPopMatters also described the song favorably: "It is a proudly religious song, almost fiery, defiant."[1]
The music video for this song was directed bySteven Goldmann and shot at theTennessee Valley Railroad Museum in a few different locations along arailroad track. The various shots of Turner include him walking through a tunnel, standing on the tracks singing, and from above while he is playing guitar. The video features various characters, all of whom are participating in varioussinful activities (includingbinge drinking,gambling,drug abuse andprostitution), and are shown on the train tracks as well. Some of the characters disappear when the train passes over them, indicating they gave in to sin, while the others remain on the tracks, indicating they were able to resist or repent.
The video also featuredex-Army Class 2-8-0 Consolidation #610 as the locomotive pulling the train. The loco was taken down for an FRA inspection in 2010, and has not yet been returned to excursion service.
"Long Black Train" debuted at number 60 on the U.S.Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of May 31, 2003.
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[9] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
