Josh Turner – Long Black Train

Country singer Josh Turner started his career in 2001.  His single release and subsequent album Long Black Train put him on the map.  His other six albums include:

• Your Man (2006)
• Everything Is Fine (2007)
• Haywire (2010)
• Punching Bag (2012)
• Deep South (2017)
• I Serve a Savior (2018)

Although Turner received several CMA nominations and two Grammy nominations, he did not win any of them.  Instead, he earned six awards within the Inspirational Country Music Awards in 2004 and 2006: twice for Song of the Year (Long Black Train and Me and God), Songwriter of the Year, and Mainstream Country Artist.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Josh-turner-long-black-train-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Turner uses allegory to inform us of the dangers of temptation.  Satan uses it so that we can break God’s laws.  Turner sounds the alarm, warning us to flee from its seduction and cling to the Father for salvation, refuge, and discovery of internal peace.  He provides the way out, compared to that of a ticket stub engulfed in flames.  It is through Him that we can find victory!  The alternative is to board the train, give into its allurement, and experience spiritual death.

This song follows a basic format, with the Chorus repeating after each Verse.  It also includes an Outro that serves as a “big reveal” of sorts, that Satan drives the train.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All of these lines are in alignment with the Bible.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-3: The train is a metaphor for temptation.  Scripture informs us of the process that is evil: Those who are enticed by its lusts give into it, bringing forth sin that ultimately results in death (James 1:14-15).  In part, it draws those who are naive and desperate.  The tracks represent the wide road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13).

Line 4: In the same way that the woman known as wisdom in Proverbs 9:6 warns us to forsake folly and live, so too Turner alerts us to flee from temptation (1 Timothy 6:8-11, 2 Timothy 2:22, and 1 Peter 2:11).

Lines 5-8: A subtle reference to 1 Corinthians 10:13.  It is God who will provide the way to escape temptation, allegorized as a train ticket in flames that once provided entry onto the train of temptation.  In Him is protection (Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 5:11, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:22, Psalm 41:2, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 59:1, Psalm 61:3, Psalm 91:1-16, Psalm 118:8, Psalm 121:7-8, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 30:5, Nahum 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and 1 John 5:18) and internal peace (John 14:27, John 16:29-33, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, and Colossians 3:15).

[Chorus]

Lines 1-4: Rather than giving into the allurement of lawbreaking, we should run hard to the Father (Deuteronomy 4:4, Deuteronomy 10:20, Deuteronomy 11:22, Deuteronomy 13:4, Joshua 22:5, and Joshua 23:8), whose name is holy (Leviticus 22:2, Leviticus 22:32, Deuteronomy 28:58, Psalm 99:3, and Psalm 111:9).  He provides the victory, that is, the way to escape temptation (see Verse 1, lines 5-8).

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: The song’s end identifies the train’s engineer as the Devil.  He is the father of lies (John 8:44) and a lion that seeks to devour anyone he can ensnare (1 Peter 5:8).

[Verse 3]

Lines 1-4: Though temptation is alluring and pleasing to the eye, much like the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6), unsuspecting individuals do not realize that the end of the ride is death (Proverbs 9:18).

[Outro]

Lines 1 and 2: Repeats Chorus, lines 3 and 4.

Lines 3 and 4: A final warning offered to Turner’s audience, identifying Satan as the force behind temptation.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Those outside the camp of Christ will find this song easy to interpret, using easy to follow imagery: A long, black train representing temptation, its tracks the road that leads to destruction, and the Devil as its engineer.  His call to follow the Father is alarmist to unbelievers and serves as a reminder for believers to follow God.

He clearly identifies the Father as the One to whom we should run.  Few would interpret this outside of Christian circles.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies the Father as the One to whom we should follow rather than the lust of temptation.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Josh Turner’s Long Black Train is an excellent Christian song that played often on secular radio.  Turner’s warning to resist Satan and follow the Father brings God glory.  It is an ancient proverb repackaged for 21st-century listeners, showing that the Bible is still relevant.  Unbelievers will have little to no problem comprehending this simple message.

This is not a worship song.  Therefore, I cannot recommend it for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Long Black Train (listen to the song)

Artist: Josh Turner

Album: Long Black Train

Genre: Country

Release Year: 2003

Duration: 4:10

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