If you were born within the last 30 years you might not realize how big a deal trains used to be. You may be lucky enough to live in a country with high speed rail, but in places like the USA trucking and flying is the main method of moving goods and people. Forms of rail transport have been around since ancient times and definitely peaked about 100 years ago. Since recorded music began, we have heard stacks of tracks that are songs about trains. Here is a list of train oriented tunes perfect for playing on the ukulele.

Intro: [C][C]

1st Verse :
C                   C
 Call you up in the middle of the night
Em              Em
 Like a firefly without a light
Am                     Am
 You were there like a blowtorch burning
G                       G
 I was a key that could use a little turning
C                C
 So tired that I couldn't even sleep
Em               Em
 So many secrets I couldn't keep
Am               Am
 Promised myself I wouldn't leave
G                 G
 One more promise I couldn't keep

Pre-Chorus :
   F                G
It seems no one can help me now
        C                   Am
And I'm in too deep there's no way out
F                Em           G            G
This time I have really led myself astray


Chorus:
C              C
 Runaway train never going back
Em              Em
 Wrong way on a one way track
Am                      Am
 Seems like I should be getting somewhere
G                    G                G     Gx 
 Somehow I'm neither here nor there                E|----3---5---3---0------|


2nd verse :
C                  C
 Can you help me remember how to smile
Em                   Em
 Make it somehow all seem worthwhile
Am                  Am
 How on earth did I get so jaded
G               G
 Life's mystery seems so faded
C                C 
 I can go where no one else can go
Em            Em
 I know what no one else knows
Am              Am
 Here I am just drownin&#8217; in the rain
G                    G
 With a ticket for a runaway train
Pre-chorus :
F             G
Everything is cut and dry
C              Am
Day and night Earth and sky
F        Em            G
Somehow I just don't believe it


Chorus:
C              C
 Runaway train never going back
Em              Em
 Wrong way on a one way track
Am                      Am
 Seems like I should be getting somewhere
G                    G
 Somehow I'm neither here nor there


Solo :
[C][Em][Am][G]
[C][Em][Am][G]
[F-G][C-Am][F-Em][G]


Bridge :
C>let ring         (C)
 Got a ticket for a runaway train
Em>let ring   (Em)
 Like a madman laughing at the rain
Am>let ring         (Am)
 Little out of touch little insane
G>let ring             G
 It's just easier than dealing with the pain


Chorus:
C              C
 Runaway train never going back
Em              Em
 Wrong way on a one way track
Am                      Am
 Seems like I should be getting somewhere
G                    G
 Somehow I'm neither here nor there
C              C
 Runaway train never going back
Em             Em
 Runaway train tearing up the track
Am             Am
 Runaway train burning in my veins
G               G
 Runaway but it always seems the same.


Ending :
[C][Em][Am][G] x2

In the early 90’s this Soul Asylum music video was played constantly on TV! But it doesn’t have too many chords and is great if you can really belt the vocals out right… catching that runaway teen angst!

Runaway Train

Em  G  D

Em                   G
I had a job, I had a girl
                 D
I had something going mister in this world
           Em                     G
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
              D
Our love went bad, times got hard
      C                D
Now I work down at the carwash
                          Em
Where all it ever does is rain
           C                  D                    Em     G    D
Don't you feel like you're a rider on a downbound train


                Em         G
She just said "Joe I gotta go
           D
We had it once we ain't got it any more"
               Em             G
She packed her bags left me behind
              D
She bought a ticket on the Central Line
            C                   D
Nights as I sleep, I hear that whistle whining
                             Em
I feel her kiss in the misty rain
      C               D                    Em     G    D
And I feel like I'm a rider on a downbound train

Em  G  D

     Em                  G
Last night I heard your voice
                 D
You were crying, crying, you were so alone
               Em            G
You said your love had never died
         D
You were waiting for me at home
           Em                       G
Put on my jacket, I ran through the woods
              D
I ran till I thought my chest would explode
              Em                  G
There in the clearing, beyond the highway
        D
In the moonlight, our wedding house shone
                     Em                         G
I rushed through the yard, I burst through the front door
                 D
My head pounding hard, upstairs I climbed
              Em               G
The room was dark, our bed was empty
        D
Then I heard that long whistle whine
          C                                  G
And I dropped to my knees, hung my head and cried

       C                   D
Now I swing a  hammer on a road gang
                                              Em
Knocking down them cross ties, working in the rain
             C                  D                    Em      G   D    Em  G   D
Now don't it feel like you're a rider on a downbound train

Em    G    D  .......

(there ya go....)

Bruce Springsteen has written a song about everything in the USA, of course he has covered trains!

Downbound Train

G   G   C   D     G   G   C   D     G   G   C   D     G   G   C   D
[intro]

G G    C          D        G   G
   Outside another yellow moon
                 C           D
   Has punched a hole in the nighttime
G  G                   C           D             G   G
   I climb through the window and down to the street
       C              D
   I'm shining like a new dime

C C         D              D
   The downtown trains are full
C       C           D       D
   With all those Brooklyn girls
Em          Em     D/F#             D/F#
   They try so hard to break out of their little world

You wave your hand and they scatter like crows
They have nothing that will ever capture your heart
They're just thorns without the rose
Oh, be careful of them in the dark

And if I was the one
You chose to be your only one
Oh baby now, can't you hear me now

G         G         C     C    G      G        C     C
   Will I see you tonight        on a downtown train
G         G          C  C            Am   Am   D             D       (G...)
   Where every night     is just the same;      You leave me lonely now

(Now) I know your window and I know it's late
I know your stairs and your doorway
I walk down your street and past your gate
I stand by the light at the fourway

You watch them as they fall
Ooh, and they all have heart attacks
They stay at the carnival, but they'll never win you back

Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Where every night, every night is just the same; you leave me lonely

Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Where every night, every night is just the same, all upon a downtown

G     D    G   D    G   D    D   D
train [instrumental]
G   D    G   D    G   D    D   D   D   D
[instrumental]

Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Where every night, every night is just the same, you leave me lonely

Will I see you tonight on a downtown train
Where all my dreams just fall like the rain, all upon a downtown train

[Fade on G G C D...]

This pop rock ballad by Rod Stewart is a pretty simple song with mostly easy chords. Just try and sing the same as Rod.

Downtown Train

Bob Marley - This Train - Uke

G                 C
When I was just a kid,
   G                       C
My mommy used to sing this song.
         Em            D
Now I've grown to be a man,
               C       D               G
Well, it still lingers deep down in my soul;
           C        D              G
I said, it lingers deep down in my soul.


                  G              C       D     G     
 C   D
I'm talkin' 'bout: this train is bound to glory - this train;
G             C        D       G     C    D
This train is bound to glory - this train;
G             Em
This train is bound to glory,
Am               C
O dis 'ere train carry no un'oly.
G          C       D              G
This train - I'm a-talkin' 'bout: this train


Now I am a man,
I remember my mama??s song,
And the felling that it gives still lingers deep within my soul
Lingers deep within my soul.

This train - mm - mm - mm;
This train is bound to glory - this train;
Talkin' 'bout ma: this train is bound to glory - this train:
This train is bound to glory,
This train carry no un'oly;
This train - I'm a-talkin' 'bout: this train

This a traditional gospel from the 1920’s that has been covered by many artists like Johnny Cash and Bob Marley.

This Train

Mystery Train
recorded by Elvis Presley
written by Sam Phillips and Herman Parker
 
G       C                      G
Train I ride   sixteen coaches long
        C                      G
Train I ride   sixteen coaches long
          D7
Well that long black train 
C               G
Got my baby and gone
 
      C                              G
Train train   coming round round the bend
      C                        G
Train train   coming round the bend
        D7
Well it took my baby 
C                 G
But it never will again (no, not again)
 
      C                            G
Train train   coming down down the line
      C                       G
Train train   coming down the line
          D7
Well it's bringing my baby 
C                    G
Cause she's mine all mine
 
Repeat #3

Even the King himself got into the train song category! This is another rockabilly type song, which will take practice to emulate on the ukulele. The rockabilly drums were centered around a “train beat” so that genre has its share of train ditties!

Mystery Train

Intro- C Em Am G F
C Am F
Hoy encuentro tu imagen en el mismo lugar
C Am F
como en sueños inciertos te estoy viendo llegar
C Am F
ya no hay luz de escena, ya no estas
C Am
me sorprende tu voz y nuestra
F
historia de amor, en la melodia
C Am F
soñamos con cambiar el dia, la oscuridad, la cancion
C Em Am G F
pero nunca supimos amar
C Em Am G F
Un amor que se murio no puede lastimar
C Em Am G F
nuestro amor que se perdio en el mar

Es de noche, hay silencio, necesito hablar
y una lluvia de invierno se quedo con mi soledad
el mundo podía desaparecer
mientras nuestra nabe volaba hacia nuevos lugares
buscabamos vida
tratamos de disimular, locura y propiedad
pero nunca supimos amar
un amor que se murio no puede lastimar
nuestro amor que se perdio en el mar

Malicia en tus sueños, me hacias volar
tu cuerpo y el mio guardaron secretos
y una rara armonia
Un amor que se murio no puede lastimar
si tu amor no se murio, por favor, donde esta?
Un amor que se murio no puede lastimar
nuestro amor que se perdio en el mar

Buscabamos vida

G      Em
I found a love for me
               C                         D
Darling just dive right in, and follow my lead
                G                 Em
Well I found a girl beautiful and sweet
          C                                  D
I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

                                 G
Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
              Em                     C               G  D
Not knowing what it was, I will not give you up this ti-ime
                   G                         Em
But darling just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
             C                  D
And in your eyes you’re holding mine

       Em   C            G          D              Em
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
C                G     D                Em
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
          C                G                 D              Em
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
         C                G        D             
But you heard it, darling you look perfect tonight

               G                    Em
Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
                C                                        D
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I’ll share her home
           G             Em
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
         C                              D
To carry love, to carry children of our own

                              G                     Em 
We are still kids, but we’re so in love, fighting against all odds
                  C               G  D
I know that we’ll be alright this ti-ime
               G                            Em 
Darling just hold my hand, be my girl, I’ll be your man
          C              D
I see my future in your eyes



       Em   C            G          D              Em
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
C                G     D                Em
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
          C                G                 D               Em
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
         C                G        D             
But you heard it, darling you look perfect tonight

G Em C D 


       Em     C            G          D              Em
Baby, I’m dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
C                G     D                Em
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
          C                G                 D               Em
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
         C                G        D             
But you heard it, darling you look perfect tonight


Perfect

I'll Be Somewhere Listening For My Name
recorded by Bill Anderson
written by V.O. Stamps - J.B. Coats

G
When my Savior calls I will answer
        D7                  G
When He calls for me I will be there
        
When my Savior calls I will answer
        D7                         G
I'll be somewhere listening for my name

        C
I'll be somewhere listening
        G 
I'll be somewhere listening
        D7                      G 
I'll be somewhere listening for name
        C
I'll be somewhere listening
        G
I'll be somewhere listening
        D7                         G
I'll be somewhere listening for my name


If my heart is right when He calls me
      D7                    G
If my heart is right I will meet Him

If my heart is right when He calls me
        D7                         G
I'll be somewhere listening for my name

Repeat #2

 
If my robe is white when He calls me
      D7                   G   
If my robe is white I will hear

If my robe is white when He calls me
        D7                         G
I'll be somewhere listening for my name

Repeat #2

I'll Be Somewhere Listening For My Name

G    A    C    D
     
D                                     G
I went to a party at the local county jail
D                                              G
All the cons were dancing and the men began to wail
        A                              G
But the guys were indiscrete they were balling in the street
       D                  A             D    A
At the local dance at the local county jail
D                                                 G
Well the band were playing and the booze began to flow
D                                         G
But the sound came over on the police car radio
A                            G
Down at Precinct 49 having a tear gas of a time
D                                  A                      D   A
Sergeant Baker got a call from the governor of the County Jail
 
Bm                                  G
load up load up load up with rubber bullets
Bm                               G
load up load up load up with rubber bullets
          Em                  A
I love to hear those convicts squeal
         Em                    A
It's a shame these slugs ain't real
       D                         A             D   A
But we can't have dancing at the local county jail

D                                                 G
Sergeant Baker and his men made a beeline for the jail
D                                              G
And for miles around you could hear the sirens wail
          A                                  G
There's a rumour going down death row that a fuse is going to blow
       D                A            D
At the local hop at the local county jail 
                                          Eb
What you gonna do about it what you gonna do
E
What you gonna do about it what you gonna do

G   A   C   D

D
Sergeant Baker started talking with a bullhorn in his hand
Dm
He was cool he was clear he was he was always in command
        G                               Em      A
He said blood will flow here padre 
Em        F#m          G
Padre you talk to your boys
G        A  D   A    D   Eb  Em F#m  C
Trust in me God will come to set you free 

F F# G G# A Bb B

D                                                       G
Well we don't understand why he called in the National Guard
D                                                     G
When Uncle Sam is the one who belongs in the exercise yard
A                   
We all got balls and brains
G
But some's got balls and chains
D                         A            D      A
At the local dance at the local county jail
Bm                                  G
Load up load up load up with rubber bullets
Bm                                  G
Load up load up load up with rubber bullets
      Em            A           Em               A
Is it really such a crime for a guy to spend his time
       D                  A            D
At the local dance at the local county jail
       D                  A            D
At the local dance at the local county jail 
                                       Eb
What you gonna do about what you gonna do
E
What you gonna do about it what you gonna do

G   A   C   D

Rubber Bullets

Hay que poner la cejilla en el tercer traste.
El LA se hace con cejilla en el quinto traste.


LAmaj7 C#m7
Hay un misterio que está creciendo
LAmaj7 C#m7
No tiene dueño solamente entre tú y yo
LAmaj7 C#m7
No tiene prisa, no vale dinero
LAmaj7 C#m7
No tiene remedio, nos contagia a los dos
FA# FA#
Lo tengo claro, sé lo que quiero
SI7 SI7
Vente conmigo que soy un bicho sincero

MI SI7 C#m7
Noche de calor bajo la luna
LA MI SI7
Navegar en tu sonrisa es mi locura
MI SI7 C#m7
Son tus labios rojos los que me embrujan
LA MI SI7
Pero más me vuelvo loco si te desnudas
LAmaj7 C#m7 LAmaj7 C#m7
Conmigo
LAmaj7 C#m7
Sigue el camino lleno de cuervos
LAmaj7 C#m7
No te despistes aunque hablen mal de mi
LAmaj7 C#m7
Vente conmigo seremos libres
LAmaj7 C#m7
Dame el veneno que me lleva a tu jardín
FA# FA#
Dame tu boca quítate la ropa
SI7 SI7
Te estoy hablando de cuidarnos toda la noche

MI SI7 C#m7
Noche de calor bajo la luna
LA MI SI7
Navegar en tu sonrisa es mi locura
MI SI7 C#m7
Son tus labios rojos los que me embrujan
LA MI SI7
Pero más me vuelvo loco si te desnudas
LAmaj7 C#m7 LAmaj7 C#m7
Conmigo vente conmigo
LA FA#
Sabes bien que en ningún lugar se está mejor que aquí
LA LA
La gente que murmura sin conciencia no tienen cura
FA#
Pero eso me da igual
MI FA#
No pienso cambiar este rato contigo, nena
SI7
Debajito de tu ombligo

MI SI7 C#m7
Noche de calor bajo la luna
LA MI SI7
Navegar en tu sonrisa es mi locura
MI SI7 C#m7
Son tus labios rojos los que me embrujan
LA MI SI7
Pero más me vuelvo loco si te desnudas
LAmaj7 C#m7 LAmaj7 C#m7
Conmigo Vente conmigo
LAmaj7 C#m7
Vente conmigo Vente conmigo, mujer
LAmaj7 C#m7
Hay un misterio que está creciendo
LAmaj7 C#m7
No tiene dueño solamente entre tú y yo

Noche de calor

Intro:        
D Gm D Gm


Verse:
D          Gm                D
 Never ending symptoms in my head
            Gm             D
We lay hollow in the emptiness
            Gm                     Bm
I'm too tired to push you from the bed



Pre-Chorus:
A#                 
 No more fighting
F
 No more fighting
Am               A#     
 No more fighting for us



Chorus:
F       Gm      D#  A#
Feel the void in our bed
    F      Gm       D#   A#
The space between is deafening
   F       Gm      Dm    A#
Oh we don't bend or break it
    F      Gm       D#   A#
The space between is deafening
    F      Gm       D#   A#
The space between is deafening



Verse:
D               Gm                    D
 No one's moving, we lack the courage to
                   Gm                  D
We lay in stalemate, wishing the other would
                   Gm                     Bm
But we're too tired, we're at the ember's core



Pre-Chorus:
A#                 
 No more fighting
F
 There’s no more fighting
Am                            A#     
 There’s no more fighting for us



Chorus:
F       Gm      D#  A#
Feel the void in our bed
    F      Gm       D#   A#
The space between is deafening
   F       Gm      Dm    A#
Oh we don't bend or break it
    F      Gm       D#   A#
The space between is deafening



Bridge:
Am       A#      Gm               C
 No more fighting, we've given up now
Dm            D#        A#
 Silence says more than words
Am     A#  Gm           C
 Imagination cures loneliness when
Dm            D#      A#
 You become a prisoner



Chorus:
F       Gm      D#  A#
Feel the void in our bed
    F      Gm       D#   A#
The space between is deafening
   F       Gm      Dm    A#
Oh we don't bend or break it
    F      Gm       D#   A#
The space between is deafening

Space Between

F                    G      C      Am G
The world is treating me bad... misery. 

C               F
I'm the kind of guy,
    C             F
Who never used to cry,
                         G      C     Am G
The world is treatin' me bad... misery

C                     F
I've lost her now for sure,
  C                F  
I won't see her no more,
                G       C
It's gonna be a drag... misery

Am                           C           
I'll remember all the little things we've done
Am                                 G         G7
Can't she see she'll always be the only one, only one.


C                F
Send her back to me,
       C            F
'Cause everyone can see
                   G     C
Without her I will be in misery


Am                           C
I'll remember ...


C                F
Send her back to me...

Misery

C                        F 
Back in the old folky days
Am            Em              D
The air was magic when we played
C                                   F
The river boat was rocking in the rain
Am                Em            D
Midnight was the time for the raid
G
Oh Isabella, Proud Isabella
Am
They tore you down and plowed you under
Bm                             C
You're only real with your makeup on
G                 D
How could I see you and stay too long

C                        F
All along the Navaho Trail
Am                  Em                 D
burnouts stub their toes on garbage pails
C                          F
Waitresses crying in the rain
Am                   Em                 D
Will their boyfriends pass this way again?
G 
Oh Mother Goose, she's on the skids
Am
the shoe* ain't happy neither are the kids  
Bm                        C
She needs someone that she can scream at
G                    D
And I'm such at heel for making her so bad

C                                F
I guess I'll call it sickness gone
Am                   Em                D
It's hard to say the meaning to this song
C                              F
An ambulance can only go so fast
Am               Em               D
It's easy to get buried in the past
C                                  F
When you try to make a good thing last
Am   Em   D

G
I saw today, in the entertainment section
Am
There's room at the top for private detection
Bm             C
To Mom and Dad this just doesn't matter
G                    D
But it's either that or pay off the kidnappers
C                          F
So all you critics sit alone
Am                    Em                        D
You're no better than me for what  you've shown
C                                               F
With your stomach pump and your hook and ladder dreams
Am                 Em               D
We could get together for some scenes

G
Well I'm up in T.O.  keepin' jive alive
Am
and out on the corner it's half past five
Bm                        C
But the subways are empty and so are the cafes
G                              D
Except for the Farmer's Market and I can still hear him sayin'
C                                  F
"You're all just pissin' in the wind
Am             Em             D
You don't know it but you are"
C                              F
And there ain't nothing like a friend
Am                           Em              D
Who can tell you you're just pissin' in the wind

G
I never knew a man could tell so many lies
Am
he had a different story for every set of eyes
Bm                  C
How can he remember who he's talking to?
G                        D                        G(hold)
Cause I know it ain't me and I hope it isn't you

Ambulance Blues

Gm 
Hoje eu tive um sonho que foi o mais bonito 
Que eu sonhei em toda a minha vida 
Sonhei que todo mundo vivia preocupado 
Tentando encontrar uma saída 
 Cm              G            Bb 
Quando em minha porta alguém tocou 
 D7                          Gm 
Sem que ela se abrisse ele entrou 
 Cm         F           Bb          Eb 
E era algo tão divino, luz em forma de menino 
 Ab                   D7 
Que uma canção me ensinou 
G 
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la 
                            D 
La la la la la la la la la la 
                            Gm 
La la la la la la la la la la 
 Gm 
Tinha na inocência a sabedoria 
Da simplicidade e me dizia 
Que tudo é mais forte quando todos cantam 
A mesma canção e que eu devia 
 Cm        F         Bb 
Ensinar a todos por ali 
  D7                            Gm 
E quantos mais houvessem para ouvir 
   Cm            F          Bb        Eb 
E a fé em cada coração, na força daquela canção 
  Ab                        D7 
Seria ouvida lá no céu por Deus 
 G 
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la 
                            D 
La la la la la la la la la la 
                            Gm 
La la la la la la la la la la 
 Gm 
E saí cantando meu pequeno hino 
Quando vi que alguém também cantava 
Vi minha esperança na voz de um menino 
Que sorrindo me acompanhava 
 Cm             F          Bb 
Outros que brincavam mais além 
   D7                         Gm 
Deixavam de brincar pra vir também 
   Cm           F          Bb        Eb 
E cada vez crescia mais aquele batalhão de paz 
 Ab                        D7 
Onde já marchavam mais de cem 
G 
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la 
                            D 
La la la la la la la la la la 
                            G  D#7 
La la la la la la la la la la 
 G#m 
De todos os lugares vinham aos milhares 
E em pouco tempo eram milhões 
Invadindo ruas, campos e cidades 
Espalhando amor aos corações 
 C#m           F#         B 
Em resposta o céu se iluminou 
 D#7                G#m 
Uma luz imensa apareceu 
 C#m               F#         B           E 
Tocaram fortes os sinos, os sons eram divinos 
  D#7                    G#m 
A paz tão esperada aconteceu 
  C#m           F#       B            E 
Inimigos se abraçaram e juntos festejaram 
  A                           D#7 
O bem maior, a paz, o amor e Deus 
 G# 
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la 
                           D# 
La la la la la la la la la la 
                           G# 
La la la la la la la la la la

A Guerra Dos Meninos

E B
Yo seré lo que tú quieras que sea
C#m G#m
seré tu amante cuando tú lo prefieras
A E B
cuando revientes en llantos róbame un abrazo tal vez algo más..
E B
No te preocupes por quitarme la vida
C#m G#m
me la devuelves cuando tu lo decidas
A E B
y que no importe si el viento en otro momento nos vuelve a juntar...

A B E
y ya no estás arañándome la espalda,
G#m A E B
no me importa lo que hagas, si tu quieres vuelveme a esperar
(E-B-C#m-G#m-A-E-B)x2
eh eh eh...

G#m A (B-A)
Si vuelvo a sufrir ...!que me coman a besos!
A E A E
doy gracias por amarme, y por abandonarme
A G#m A B E
en lugar de tu amor escogí una luz para poder consolarme

Yo seré lo que tu quieras ....
Yo seré lo que tú quieras...

Por el momento y situacion en la cual escuche este tema me senti un tonto
he jurado no volver a cometer los mismos errores del pasado
es mi turno de recompensarte por todo lo que hiciste por mí
ahora yo te la dedico KaRyKatu my liebe....

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