[Intro] (Vocal: lip‑buzzing and vocal percussion to mimic a train — starts slow: "puh‑puh‑puh", "shhh", "tss‑tss", then speeds up: "puh‑puh‑puh‑puh‑puh", adding higher "whee‑oo" whistle tones. Gradually layered with soft piano stabs and cross‑stick drum hits) (Horns join in with a low, sustained note, then a short rising fanfare as the "train" picks up speed) (Full band enters with a swinging groove on the last "whee‑oo!") [Verse 1] I’m on a train, wheels keep on rollin’, rollin’ down the line, Every mile tells a story, every station marks some time. Past the hills and through the valleys, see the sun go down again, Feels like I’ve been travelin’ forever, but I’m startin’ all the same. Years go by like passing freight cars, faster than you’d ever guess, People change, they come and go, new faces, new addresses. But I hold on to the rhythm, that old beat inside my soul— It’s the one thing that stays steady when the world keeps movin’ on. [Pre‑Chorus] (Call: “Can you hear it?”) (Response: “I hear it!”) Hear that engine sing its song, loud and clear across the land, Just like music, it don’t age a day—it’s got that everlastin’ hand. No matter how the years keep flyin’, no matter who we used to be, That sweet old melody’s still dancin’ in the heart of you and me. [Chorus] Oh, the years go rollin’ like a train on the track, New faces, new places, never lookin’ back. People come, people go, winds of change blow strong, But the music stays young, yeah, it stays young all along. Like a flame in the wind, never burnin’ out, The music’s alive, no doubt about. So I’ll ride this train till the morning light, Holdin’ tight to the song that feels so right. [Instrumental Break] (Piano solo: fast, improvised, full of runs and percussive chords; then trumpet takes over with a bright, energetic solo; trombone answers with sliding phrases; drums keep the train chug steady with cross‑stick accents) [Verse 2] Met a stranger by the window, shared a cup of coffee black, Talked about the roads we’ve traveled, all the turns we couldn’t track. Said his story’s written in the miles he left behind, And I told him mine’s in every note I ever tried to find. We don’t know where the tracks will lead, don’t need to see the end, As long as there’s a beat to follow, that’s the only friend I need. And when he stepped off at the next stop, waved his hat and smiled, I knew our paths had crossed for reason, even if just for a while. [Pre‑Chorus] (Call: “Did you feel it?”) (Response: “I felt it!”) Hear that engine sing its song, loud and clear across the land, Just like music, it don’t age a day—it’s got that everlastin’ hand. No matter how the years keep flyin’, no matter who we used to be, That sweet old melody’s still dancin’ in the heart of you and me. [Chorus] Oh, the years go rollin’ like a train on the track, New faces, new places, never lookin’ back. People come, people go, winds of change blow strong, But the music stays young, yeah, it stays young all along. Like a flame in the wind, never burnin’ out, The music’s alive, no doubt about. So I’ll ride this train till the morning light, Holdin’ tight to the song that feels so right. [Outro] Yeah… the train keeps rollin’, and the music keeps playin’, Through the rain and sunshine, never fadin’. Years may pass, but the beat stays true, This old song’s got a home in my heart, and I’m takin’ it with me too. (Piano plays a final flourish, horns hit a last punchy chord, drums finish with a crisp cross‑stick accent)
