AboutMel Priddle Expertise For 50 years I have been listening to, buying and searching into the music of Elvis Presley. If you have a question relating to any song that Elvis recorded (officially, unofficially or privately), then I guarantee to give you an answer. Likewise with his movies. Questions relating to Elvis' private life I prefer to leave to others.
Experience Ex-cinema manager, film publicist, record merchandiser, and Elvis music lover since 1955.
Question What is a mystery train? Somewhere I've read or heard that it was referring to a death train. In the song "Mystery Train" does it have any meaning? It must mean something. Thanks!
Answer Hello Dot,
As I understand it, "Mystery Train", which was a re-working of an old black blues song, relates to the movement of labour from the South up to Chicago and Detroit during the 1920's and 30's.
The song's singer is lamenting the fact that he has seen his girlfriend leave on a northbound train and, now that she is dead, her body is returning to him on the same train. The reason for her death is not given.
As a young man trying to make his mark in the recording industry, I doubt very much that Elvis was too aware of the social history attached to the words when he recorded the song in 1955.
