Mystery Train (1955) Elvis Presley

MUSC-21600: The Art of Rock Music Prof. Freeze

LISTEN FOR • 12 bar blues (with many added beats) • Rhythmic intensity and excitement o Quick tempo o Slap bass o Active guitar patterns o Cannot be contained in regular phrasing • Vocal intensity in center of attention, blends country and blues inflections • Lyrics convey sense of confident control, optimism

CREATION Songwriters Herman “Little Junior” Parker, Sam Phillips (lyrics, music) Label, Record Sun 223 Musicians electric guitar, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, drums Producer Sam Phillips Recording Memphis Recording Service; Memphis, TN; 11 July 1955; mono Charts Country 11

MUSIC Genre Rockabilly Form Simple verse Key E major Meter 4/4

LISTENING GUIDE Time Formal Section Lyric Cue Listen For 0:00 Intro (4) • Quick tempo with much forward energy. MUSC-21600 Listening Guide Freeze “Mystery Train” (Elvis Presley, 1955)

Time Formal Section Lyric Cue Listen For • Begins on beat 2, with acoustic bass entering in first full bar. • Train imitation carried by slap bass, guitars. 0:08 Verse 1 (12) “Train I ride” • Starts on IV. • Blues phrasing (aab) with vocals clearly more important than instrumentals. • Two added beats in bars 2, 6. • Hiccup at “got my baby” typical country. 0:35 Verse 2 (12) “Train train” • As before. 1:02 Verse 3 (12) “Train train” • Vocal hiccup exaggerated at end 1:31 Instr. Verse (8) • Electric guitar solo emphasizing blue notes. • Verse shortened to just 8 bars. 1:47 Verse 4 (12) “Train train” • As earlier verses. 2:13 Coda (7) • Vocal hoots • Train fades into distance.

LYRICS Train I ride, sixteen coaches long Train train, comin' down, down the line Train I ride, sixteen coaches long Well it's bringin' my baby, 'cause she's mine all, Well that long black train got my baby and gone all mine She's mine, all, all mine Train train, comin' 'round, 'round the bend Train train, comin' 'round, 'round the bend Train train, comin' 'round, 'round the bend Well it took my baby, but it never will again Train train, comin' 'round, 'round the bend No, not again Well it took my baby, but it never will again Never will again Train train, comin' down, down the line (Ooh, woah)

SOURCES • http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/elvispresley/mysterytrain.html