Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath

"Locomotive Breath" is a song by the British progressive rock band Jethro Tull from their 1971 album, Aqualung. It is notable for a long bluesy piano introduction (particularly during live performances) and its flute solo by flautist Ian Anderson.

The song's lyrics use the imagery of an impending and unavoidable train wreck as an allegorical portrayal of a man's life falling apart.

The term "locomotive breath" refers to the steam exhaust from a steam locomotive.

Locomotive Breath

In the shuffling madness

Of the locomotive breath,

Runs the all, time loser,

Headlong to his death.

He feels the piston scraping

Steam breaking on his brow

Old Charlie stole the handle and

The train it won't stop going

No way to slow down.

He sees his children jumping off

At the stations - one by one.

His woman and his best friend

In bed and having fun.

He's crawling down the corridor

On his hands and knees

Old Charlie stole the handle and

The train it won't stop going

No way to slow down.

He hears the silence howling

Catches angels as they fall.

And the all-time winner

Has got him by the balls.

He picks up Gideons Bible

Open at page one

God He stole the handle and

The train won't stop going

No way to slow down.