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Warren Zevon — Nighttime In The Switching Yard
Album: Excitable Boy
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 131









Released: 1976
Length: 4:07
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Nighttime in the switching yard
Nighttime in the switching yard
Nighttime in the switching yard
Nighttime in the switching yard

Get it out on the main line
Listen to the rhythm of the train go by
Get it out on the main line
Listen to the rhythm of the train go by

Listen to the train whistle whine
Listen to the train whistle whine

Nighttime in the switching yard
Nighttime in the switching yard
Nighttime in the switching yard
Nighttime in the switching yard
Hey, yeah

See that train
See that train
See that train
See that train
See that train, the midnight train runs both ways
See that train, the midnight train runs both ways
See that train, the midnight train runs both ways
See that train, the midnight train runs both ways

Nighttime in the switching yard
Nighttime in the switching yard

Do it
Doot dat doot dat doot dadoot
Doot dat doot dat doot dadoot
Doot dat doot dat doot dadoot
Doot dat doot dat doot dadoot
Doot dat doot dat doot dadoot
Doot dat doot dat doot dadoot
Doot dat doot dat doot dadoot
Doot dat doot dat doot dadoot

Listen to the train whistle whine
Listen to the train whistle whine
Listen to the train whistle whine
Listen to the train whistle whine

Listen to the train
Listen to the train
Listen to the train
Listen to the track
Comments (35)add comment
This one goes out to all you "trainspotters" out there.....you know who you are.
BTW....the biggest switching yard in the country is in North Platte,Ne(Union Pacific Railroad).
I'll take trains for a 100 Alex
This is about my least favourite Warren Zevon tune, but as a huge Zevon it's always a thrill to hear him played on the radio :-)
Not used to ol' Warren getting so down and funky with his bad self! Zevon meets James Brown! {#Dance} Love it!
albumcredits.com says there were three bass players on this cut
Kenny Edwards
Bob Glaub
Leland Sklar

Wonder who's the Funkmeister?


Funky!!
there's nothing boring about trains, hey, think Jive Talking and how that was inspired by the sound of trains.... it's got rhythm, I like this song
Imagine the scenario...
Warren and band are sitting round in the studio - someone says "What's the most boring subject for a song you can think of."
"...bet you can't write a song about a train switching yard Warren."
"Watch me." says Warren.

The rest is history. 
 GT66 wrote:

Don't like funk? If it weren't for the men in the switching yard, perhaps Unstoppable would be more than a fictional action movie. Perhaps Warren was trying to keep the men in the switching yard awake!

 
nice reply
that's deeper than warren's lyrics

I give it a firm "eh".
 rtrudeau wrote:
I know I'm going against conventional wisdom here, but ...
YUCK. This whole band needed to lay off of the cocaine.
 
Don't like funk? If it weren't for the men in the switching yard, perhaps Unstoppable would be more than a fictional action movie. Perhaps Warren was trying to keep the men in the switching yard awake!

I'm a big Warren Zevon fan, but this one can be skipped.
OK, but probably my least favorite song on that album...
thought it was The Pretenders when it started up. was not disappointed to see I was wrong.
Never heared this before! Not bad!
This piece was boring when it came out. It's still boring decades later. WHAT was he thinking? oh.... forgot. no brain involved on this piece.
I know I'm going against conventional wisdom here, but ...
YUCK. This whole band needed to lay off of the cocaine.
I was in another room when this song initially came on and thought it was Gorillaz Stylo. Now I'm going to have to listen to them back-to-back.

 Derecho wrote:


Get it out on the main line...
 
I see traffic lights.


Play that funky music white boy ... {#Dancingbanana}
nothin's shakin' on Shakedown Street...



Get it out on the main line...



Thanks Warren, where-ever you are, iff-in' you are, and thanks, iff'in your not. 
 toterola wrote:
What an incredibly great record album! Easily in my All-Time Top 10. {#Clap}
 
{#High-five} Agreed, it's stellar.

this sucks a lot  {#Puke}
still remember finding this tune on the record while trying to tape "Roland the Headless Thomspon Gunner" from the phonograph to my cassette recorder I stole from my brothers room. Can here myself sneeze somewhere in the recording.
Wow, I forgot about this song.
...and another one bites the dust...
What an incredibly great record album! Easily in my All-Time Top 10. {#Clap}
Disco Warren{#Dance}
Warren Zevon?....I thought it was Boz Scaggs LOL. But I like it.
Fantastic song!!  This is a new artist for me and I'd like to hear this song more often.
Music to railfan by!
Most overrated musician ever. This sucks. {#Crashcomp}
Meh.  IMO, this is the weakest track on an otherwise spectacular album.
Great song; I haven't heard it in years.
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