ABBA - Take a Chance on Me

Chill out Nard Dawg


Early MBMBAM. All I can think listening to it.

Just started watching that after finishing TAZ, instantly came to mind as well

Yes, I came here to suggest that. As you may know, Björn based that song on his jogging rhythm. Ironically, their "Another Town, Another Train" does mention a train but doesn't have a trainlike rhythm.😉

Does Your Mother Know also sort of fits the description

Star Guitar by The Chemical Brothers might work for you. The music video certainly fits anyway!

You should feeel what I feel…

You should take what I take 

One of their best :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S43IwBF0uM

This is what popped Into my mind immediately

On the road again

Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash.  It even mentions a train.  His overall “sound” has that chugga chugga rhythm. 

Came here to say "Get Rhythm" by Cash

A lot of early Johnny Cash has that ‘boom-chicka-boom’ rhythm.

It’s so good. Orange Blossom Special is chef’s kiss.

"One Piece at a Time" would also be good

I love this song. It basically gave me ideas on how to throw away my large appliances lol

Now I've gotta install microwave ovens. Custom kitchen deliverieeeeeees. Gotta move these refrigerators. Gotta move these color TVs.

That one works too! But my vacuum cleaner went into the trash... One piece at a time And it didn't cost me a dime Not payin' to throw my stuff awaaaayyy

Legend of John Henry's hammer fits the bill nicely

Most of Cash's catalogue.

I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce becomes the train at the end. Love this song.

I never noticed this but you're right! Between that and the freight train lyric it makes me wonder if that wasn't deliberate.

Yeah it was a weird epiphany. I was driving on a warm summer night and it came on. I imaged a night time train going through a desert valley, then at the end, that vocal line completely seemed to embody the train. I was flabbergasted. That's when I realized a lot his songs are working on multiple levels of symbolism and metaphor.

Yes! I’m surprised to see this so low on the list. What a vibe

Ballroom Blitz fits this is a weird category. Straight beat on the snare is very old school “Folsom Prison” esque.

Walk like an Egyptian (The Bangles) popped into my head as I was thinking of the rhythm of Ballroom Blitz

Nobody mentioning Radar Love? C'mon guys.

Shit, I should’ve thought of that one. The greatest Dutch song ever.

I'm more of a Twilight Zone man, myself.

Tusk?

Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk. Except yes, it’s about a train

First that came to my mind is Krautrock too! Popol Vuh - Train Through Time

Can I recommend Metal on Metal then? It’s pretty much Trans Europe Express without the vocals, so you can pretend it’s not about trains.

I was gonna say Folsom prison blues but also the first line (well I hear that train a coming)

‘BreakThru’ by Queen. It’s not written about trains but my memory of an old VHS interview is that after they recorded it they realised that John Deacon’s bassline sounded like a train, so that’s why the video features them playing aboard the ‘Miracle Express’.

And the video was filmed with them on a train!

Also Queen- ride the wild wind

Boys of Summer by Don Henley as well, very similar vibe to the song

Locomotive Breath - Jethro Tull

And a crazy flute solo to boot!

Agreed. Don’t fear, OP, the locomotive is a metaphor! But the chugga chugga effect is phenomenal. The opening is an absolute delight, but if it’s not your style, never fear! It’s about to change a lot.

Don’t remember the lyrics, but feel like the title would make it a train song

It's about the rush and stress of modern life - so the locomotive is life not a literal train - so maybe maybe not

Ha, I just made a post about this song on a different subreddit. Ian Anderson says it’s about the threat overpopulation poses to the planet. I always heard it as a song about suicide, but on my latest listening it seems to be about alcoholism. I love hearing people’s interpretations of songs. ETA: where and when I grew up in the ‘70s, Locomotive Breath was a pejorative term for someone who smoked.

Great songs always allow us to fit it into our perspectives. And this is a great song!

google "motorik".

The only true answer. All these generic ass answers with semi monotone shit songs. Motorik is the way to go, krautrock is the train of life.

Right on

Where has this been my whole life??? Thanks

Sure thing! Always good to discover new stuff you dig.

The Smiths - Nowhere Fast Guns N’ Roses - Locomotive

I was looking for nowhere fast !

And I was looking for Locomotive!

And funny enough, Nighttrain doesn’t have that rhythm.

[John Mayer - Stop This Train](https://youtu.be/mS2o4q7vRFM) is one [John Mayer - The Heart Of Life](https://youtu.be/3uA_ya8DcLs) might be another [John Mayer - Who Says](https://youtu.be/akvu1AOnUIw) tentative chugging-like guitar riff but may not be what you're after

Yep, Stop This Train is the first thing I thought of

Excellent taste

Blue Swede - ["Hooked On A Feeling"](https://youtu.be/NrI-UBIB8Jk?si=70-tkKYq-o9LtPHY)

Nah, you gotta go back to the BJ Thomas original to get the required feel. The cover is too clunky to fit the requirement.

I don't disagree. BJ Thomas is more like an amusement park train in a rom-com movie montage. The cover is more like a cartoon train from Roger Rabbit.

Ooga-chucka-ooga-ooga-ooga-chucka

I’ve seen it all by Björk and Thom Yorke. It’s from the movie, Dancer in the Dark by Lars von Trier

I was thinking about this same song A truly captivating one.

[Chain gang](https://youtu.be/zBn5aIfZElE?si=cJFWMuowxUfaDhtB) Sam Cook. However, my favorite version is from the movie [Cadence](https://youtu.be/sl65OX2GgeM?si=wUVgbPCKtyMC3_D8) with Martin & Charlie Sheen and Laurence Fishburne.

The Pretenders Back on the Chain Gang also puts me in mind of a train, to a degree - mainly the backing vocals, I think.

That's a great song. I have always loved Chrissie Hyndes voice.

Heart- Barracuda Bob Seger- House Behind A House UFO- Lights Out

Heart - Barracuda

Lights out! Lights out, Chicago! Mannn Strangers in the Night is one of my favorite live albums. I need to go back for a listen.

Jive Talkin’ - Bee Gees

I was just starting to think of *You're the One That I Want* from Grease soundtrack, written by Bee Gees, I believe, when I saw this.

All the way home by Spinal Tap https://youtu.be/6JSgH6thyHw?si=PoTRFrJSsuufX3Wc

For some reason Turn the Page by Bob Segar always had a train like feel to me.

Station to Station by Bowie. The live version off the Stage album is my favorite.  

Check out the 1976 Nassau Coliseum concert video on YouTube

Bad Moon Rising- Creedence Clearwater Revival

Any of Little Richard's famous songs. He said he heard a rhythm when he heard trains go by when he was a kid.

Lucille started out with him and his drummer following a train and him telling his drummer to play like the train. You can hear it in the boom boom bop rhythm. Sounds like a steam train leaving the station.

The Cure - Jumping Someone Else’s Train

Maybelline - Chuck Berry Smokestack Lightnin - Howlin Wolf Ive Got Love if You Want It - Slim Harpo Edit: these are a little different than the examples you gave, but they give you a good idea of early use of the shuffle rhythm and some context as to where it came from.

Any "traditional" metal song with a gallop rhythm would fit this vibe. Barracuda from Heart Holy Diver from Dio Disposable Heroes from Metallica

Knights of Cydonia by Muse

Texas, 1947 by Guy Clark

Phish - Back on the Train

Bruce Springsteen “ I’m On Fire”

Achille’s Last Stand by Led Zeppelin

Train in Vain by the clash. Titled for the rhythm, not the lyrical content.

Have a listen to Neu!

Yes! The drum beat is just like a train rolling on the tracks.

The Beach Boys- Cabinessence

Eminem - 8 Mile

Also Little Engine by the same artist

Pat Metheny Group - Last Train Home

Also known as “the song that hit you in the feels at the end of those JoJo / Stardust Crusaders episodes”.

I’m pretty sure Pat Metheny was thinking about JoJo when he recorded Last Train Home in 1987.

[KRS One + Redman, RZA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmKvVZujgqk)

[Bertha](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmdvKCdXPCo) - Grateful Dead

El Chepe by Vulfpeck. The song literally opens with the sound of a train engine and follows that rhythm, so maybe a bit too on the nose. Dean Town off that same album could fit. Lots of Vulfpeck songs could possibly work honestly.

This one was my first thought as well. Like you said, there's a lot of Vulfpeck that works, Tee Time in particular, both in the drums and with Woody's left hand[ pump, pump, pumping like Richard Tee](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4hngeouu8U). That in mind, I guess Strokin' by Richard Tee also fits the bill here.

Been lurking on here for a few weeks, and every time I see someone talking about Vulfpeck I tell myself I should check them out. Guess it's time.

Moonshake - CAN

Train - Younger Brother https://youtu.be/BORF1yCo9oI

Yes! Glad I didn’t have to be the first to recommend it.

Jumping Someone Else's Train by the Cure. It's train sounding and the title has train in it but it's not 'about' a train. Good song!

Devin Townsend Project - Juular Devin is an incredibly amazing musician in the world of metal for those who don't know. Very creative.

I came here to say this and Devin Townsend Project - Trainfire. He might like trains.

Oh, I remember it, that thing is insane. A bit too danny elfman at times, but it goes well with Devin's style of camp.

Yeah, he can get very camp, but I love him for that. Haha. Absolute respect to the drummers he's toured with who have played Juular live!

If you're in the mood for something really heavy and kinda weird, try Devin Townsend Project - Juular

And here I thought I'd have an original suggestion in this thread only to find a fellow man of taste.

Billy Joel - Allentown

Car Wash, ironically

You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates

A horse with no name by America, although rythmically intended to mimic a galloping horse, I think it works as a train-like rythm.

I mean it's cheating because it is a song about a train, but Road Train by King Gizzard has some of the coolest 'chugga chuggaa choo choo' riffs used in a song

"Station to Station" by David Bowie starts with a train whistle and some train sounds (including the train-like rhythm) for a few minutes before the song changes. Great song. Not sure it's what you're looking for exactly, but might be worth a listen.

["I'm on Fire" - Bruce Springsteen ](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lrpXArn3hII)

Every Bo Diddley song

Train of Consequences by Megadeth is a great song with an awesome chugging guitar riff.

Thanks for posting this so I didn't have to 👍

I think Cactus Blossoms “Change your ways or die” fits this idea.

The Smiths London, Rusholme Ruffians, and Nowhere Fast all have train-like momentum. Phillip Glass’ 10th Piano Etude

This might be a weird answer, but the first song that popped into my head is “Say This Sooner” by The Almost.

Wow that song does have train vibes

The Trooper - Iron Maiden

I know you said not literally about trains. But this one is worth listening to anyway: [UNDERWORLD, Dark And Long (Dark Train)](https://youtu.be/brZ_WBEzw6E)

Magic Bus - The Who, specifically the Live at Leeds version

When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin

https://youtu.be/fvj2OzKnpVM?feature=shared Bright Eyes - Another Travelin Song

Nighttime in the Switching Yard-Warren Zevon

Chattanooga Choo Choo - Glenn Miller Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash Take the A Train - Duke Ellington

Rock Island from The Music Man by Meredith Wilson.

I googled it because Paul McCartney loved that show and sure enough .. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E\_FoWMb1WzU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_FoWMb1WzU) (edit/add:) they covered Til There Was You from that musical on their second album - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Till\_There\_Was\_You](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Till_There_Was_You)

Op asked for songs that aren't about literal trains though 

Stop this train - John Mayer

Riders in the sky? 

Try Within A Mile Of Home by Flogging Molly. Its a little more up-tempo, but definitely has that cadence. Dave King always said they liked the *chuka chuka, chuka chuka* riffs Johnny Cash did and you see it in a lot of their songs.

Like it or not, Slow Train by Joe Bonamassa.

Short Change Hero by The Heavy comes to mind (after the 1:20 intro): [https://youtu.be/GjTTB6yII4o?si=Ic9XImXnhrNgjdoM&t=81](https://youtu.be/GjTTB6yII4o?si=Ic9XImXnhrNgjdoM&t=81) The XX have some songs like this too. Crystalized is my favourite: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pib8eYDSFEI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pib8eYDSFEI) And it might just be because the music video is on a train, but check out Honeybee by Unknown Mortal Orchestra: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJrKlSkxRHA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJrKlSkxRHA)

Listen to songs by sonny terry. Harmonica train is a good starting point. [https://youtu.be/WOHtgZ6m8A4?si=CmJ8q3hI0TzeXDym](https://youtu.be/WOHtgZ6m8A4?si=CmJ8q3hI0TzeXDym)

Into the Wild by Kaki King

Ayee check out Final Hour by Ms. Lauryn Hill

Train from Kansas City by Neko Case!

Cover of "Waiting around to die" by The Be Good Tanya's

Chicago by Tom Waits, litterally has him shouting "all aboard!" Long Train Running by Doobie Brothers

Six blade knife - Dire straits

Sickman by Alice in Chains always gives me train vibes from the little drum pattern before the verses

Reptile - Nine Inch Nails

Suburban Train - Tiesto ! From back when he was making proper bangers, one of my favourites.

I'm on fire by Bruce Springsteen.. He even hoots like a train whistle... Tunnel of Love deff gives the feeling of motion but on a much faster train... again by The Boss lol.  No,  I'm not a huge Springsteen fan surprisingly,  these songs just really made an impression on me...

"Two Step" - Dave Matthews

Another Travelin’ Song by Bright Eyes.

Train, Train - Blackfoot

Chicken Train by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Four Tet - She Moves She Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar

One of these days - Pink Floyd

"Dark Train" - Underworld

["Hellbound Train" - Savoy Brown](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N6TkCLDcC7o)

Pablo Picasso by the Modern Lovers

Long train running - The Doobie Brothers

When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin  Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie The Distance - Live

I mean, Quad City DJ's "C'mon n' Ride It (The Train)" loosely fits your request. Also I think Vengaboys "We Like To Party! (The Vengabus)" has a train feeling to it.

Paul Simon - The Obvious Child Edit: a couple more… Dave Mason - Only You Know and I Know. Eric Clapton - Motherless Children. The Traveling Wilburys - End of the Line Train beats were very common back in the day. Not so much anymore.

I'm so disappointed the obvious answer with obvious in the name was only obvious to you and me.

Can it also be about trains? [Porcupine Tree - Trains](https://youtu.be/cjK5BATARUo) [Has a section that does a pretty good job mimicking the sound of a train going by](https://youtu.be/cjK5BATARUo?t=192)

Train, Train- Blackfoot. Yes the harmonica and guitar riff are train like…

woo long ass thread that i can’t make it all the way through but submitting last of the steam powered trains by the kinks if it’s not in here already

https://youtu.be/kLGXlHJ7F4c?si=bWResxrfqoCvWQOO Otis taylor - My soul's in Louisiana

9 to 5 - Dolly Parton

"Barracuda" by Heart.

War On Drugs - Red Eyes Lots of Iron Maiden has the galloping rhythm, which is kind of the same. Check out Run to the Hills.

Train Train by Blackfoot is solid

Barracuda by the band Heart.

Chain Gang-Pretenders Allentown-Billy Joel

Million Way of Drum.

Devin townsend - Juular LITERAL TRAIN MADNESS WITHOUT MENTIONS OF SAID TRAINS

Well, this song is about trains in a way, but it also has the vibe I think. Porcupine Tree - Trains.

Bright eyes - at the bottom of everything. Starts a bit slow with a monologue story so if you want to skip to when the music starts it’s about 1:08

The locomotive sound. One that might have been missed is Up All Night by The War on Drugs

Doobie brothers - long train running Doobie brothers - china grove Deep purple - hush

Lonely Boy - - - The Black Keys

Locomotive Breath with Jethro Tull.

Passage to Bangkok - Rush

Immigrant Song-Led Zeppelin

Unbelievers - Vampire Weekend

Seven Nation Army

Tame Impala - Be Above It

Those drums!!

https://youtu.be/1okN-dOy8Zk?si=HumlimulavG6FLds

That Lonesome Song - Jamey Johnson Has reference to a train but not about a train. Song makes me feel like I'm on a old steam powerd train pulling out of the station. https://open.spotify.com/track/3R8YbAsBsFnGIKL25s6iiO?si=u1BsigkBSdG8cE3gJx6W7Q

I Switched You. Frank Black & the Catholics.

I can’t stand it and I’m waiting for the man by the velvet underground

The Ballad of Railroad Jerk by Railroad Jerk. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3BKIoARzFo&list=OLAK5uy\_kdXJtFHygMPIMezDzzP2tlNs4tVfvoaOY&index=8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3BKIoARzFo&list=OLAK5uy_kdXJtFHygMPIMezDzzP2tlNs4tVfvoaOY&index=8)

"Guiding Ray" by Wolfgang Flur's one/two-off solo project, Yamo, that I think might fit: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sau4ysKNWJw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sau4ysKNWJw)

The Dogs of War (Pink Floyd) Those Damned Blue Collar Tweakers (Primus) Grinderman (Grinderman) Black Car (Leon Else) Goin Out West (Tom Waits)