Imelda May Rockabilly Lyrics

Train Kept A-Rollin'
Vinyl Record Memories

The Imelda May rockabilly lyrics to the tune "Train Kept A-Rollin'" was written by Tiny Bradshaw and Lois Mann in 1951. Johnny Burnette covered the song in 1956 and gave it a whole new sound.

Imelda talks about Burnette's influence on her music, but it's hard to put her in any one musical style. 

She's an exciting mix of wide-ranging, broad-based 50s genres with a hefty doll-up of rockabilly, country-rock and blues that makes her an emerging force.

Like the Stray cats in the 80's she has introduced a whole new generation to an alternative genre of music you just don't hear on the radio these days.

May is an artist that can deservedly be counted among female Rockabilly legends such as Wanda Jackson and Janis Martin. Wanda has always been my favorite but Imelda is my new Rockabilly girl.

I love her excitement for the music. She's much more than just a new twist on an old theme.

She has firmly planted herself at the junction where rockabilly, burlesque, and street-corner sassiness come together.

Imelda May Rockabilly
Blues Growl To A Rockabilly Howl!   

Imelda May was born in Dublin, Ireland. She is unmistakable both in her music, a mix of soul, blues and rockabilly and her style, with a solitary curl and shock of blonde in her jet black hair.

She can go from a blues growl to a rockabilly howl in a heartbeat, often making your own skip one.  

Imelda has not only caught people's attention musically, her striking style and unmistakable cool, but quirky 50s look, has led her to grace the front cover of the Irish Sunday Times Style.

What sets May apart from other sirens, besides having an expressive, playfully sultry voice with great range, is a solid backing band that has worked together for years.

You will be able to see her backing band in action on the Jeff Beck tribute to Les Paul pages  in the near future.  Stay tuned.

Rockabilly beginning - Barred from her own shows!

Imelda May began singing in clubs when she was 16 years old and had the honor of being occasionally barred from her own shows for being underage.

The very best musicians in Dublin enjoyed her singing but advised her to be more aggressive with her voice. 

It was around this time, when driving a tearful Imelda to a gig, that her father asked her "Is your heart broken? Excellent...Now you can sing the blues." 

Remembered by Imelda as a turning point in her life, from then on her voice developed into the sultry, rich and unique tone you hear today.

Marvelous Miss May!

Her debut album "Love Tattoo" which she recorded and released on her own label, has gone Triple Platinum. She writes many of her own songs. 

Imelda has shared a stage with Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.

Future pages of Imelda singing the Les Paul and Mary Ford songs with her smoking-hot backing band and Jeff Beck on guitar, will show you why the Marvelous Miss May is a true rockabilly queen.

Imelda May Rockabilly Lyrics
"Train Kept A-Rollin'"
writers - (1951) Tiny Bradshaw and Lois Mann

I caught a train, I met a dame.
She was a hepster, and a real gone dame.
She was pretty, from New York City.
And we trucked on down that ol' fair lane.
With a "heave!" and a "ho!"
Well, I just couldn't let her go.

Get along, sweet little woman,
Get along, better be on your way.
Get along, sweet little woman,
Get along, better be on your way.
With a "heave!" and a "ho!"
Well, I just couldn't let her go.

Well, the train kept a-rollin' all night long.
The train kept a-rollin' all night long.
The train kept a-movin' all night long.
The train kept a-rollin' all night long.
With a "heave!" and a "ho!"
Well, I just couldn't let her go.

Owwwh!

We made a stop in Albuquerque.
She must have thought that I's a real gone jerk.
We got off the train at El Paso,
Our lovin' was so good, Jack, I couldn't let her go.
Get along, well, I just couldn't let her go.

Get along, sweet-e little woman,
Get along, better be on your way.
Get along, sweet little woman,
Get along, better be on your way.
With a "heave!" and a "ho!"
Well, I just couldn't let her go.

Well, that train kept a rollin' all night long.
The train kept a rollin' all night long.
The train kept a rollin' all night long.
The train kept a rollin' all night long.
With a "heave!" and a "ho!"
Well, I just couldn't let her go-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh.

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