#spanish train

[stingrayextraordinaire]

Song Moodboards // "A Spaceman Came Traveling" by Chris de Burgh

The whole world is waiting, waiting to hear the song again. There are thousands standing on the edge of the world.

[theoutcastrogue]

Chris De Burgh - Spanish Train

There's a Spanish train that runs between Guadalquivir and old Seville And at dead of night the whistle blows And people hear she's running still And then they hush their children back to sleep Lock the doors, upstairs they creep For it is said that the souls of the dead Fill that train, ten thousand deep

Well a railwayman lay dying with his people by his side His family were crying, knelt in prayer before he died But above his bed just a-waiting for the dead Was the Devil with a twinkle in his eye "Well God's not around and look what I've found This one's mine!"

Just then the Lord himself appeared In a blinding flash of light And shouted at the Devil "Get thee hence to endless night!" But the Devil just grinned and said "I may have sinned But there's no need to push me around I got him first so you can do your worst He's going underground"

"But I think I'll give you one more chance" Said the Devil with a smile "So throw away that stupid lance It's really not your style Joker is the name, poker is the game We'll play right here on this bed And then we'll bet for the biggest stakes yet: The souls of the dead"

And I said look out, Lord, he's going to win The sun is down and the night is riding in That train is dead on time, many souls are on the line Oh Lord, he's going to win

Well the railwayman he cut the cards And he dealt them each a hand of five And for the Lord he was praying hard Or that train he'd have to drive Well the Devil he had three aces and a king And the Lord he was running for a straight He had the queen and the knave and nine and ten of spades All he needed was the eight

And then the Lord he called for one more card But he drew the diamond eight And the Devil said to the son of God "I believe you've got it straight So deal me one for the time has come To see who'll be the king of this place" But as he spoke from beneath his cloak He slipped another ace

Ten thousand souls was the opening bid And it soon went up to fifty-nine But the Lord didn't see what the Devil did And he said "That suits me fine I'll raise you high to a hundred and five And forever put an end to your sins" But the Devil let out a mighty shout "My hand wins!"

Well that Spanish train still runs between Guadalquivir and old Seville And at dead of night the whistle blows And people fear she's running still And far away in some recess The Lord and the Devil are now playing chess The Devil still cheats and wins more souls And as for the Lord, well, he's just doing his best

[leo-fie]

Ok, so you all know that song "Spanish Train" by Chris DeBurgh. It's from the 70s, great song.

In it god and the devil are playing poker with the souls of the dead as stake. God loses, because the devil cheats.

The song ends with the lyric:

And far away in some recess The Lord and the Devil are now playing chess The Devil still cheats and wins more souls And as for the Lord, well, he's just doing his best

Which leaves one with the question how one cheats at chess. I mean, you can cheat by earplug or by playing the same game against a program and stuff like that, I know. But that's not what I mean. The devil wins in poker by sleight of hand, so presumably he cheats in chess in a similar way. He's by himself, in person, no partner.

And then it dawned on me. This might not be the singular capital D Devil, but devil as a synonym for demon. Because if there's one person who can figure out how to cheat at chess, it's Crowley.

[hanakogames]

I have a Chris Be Burgh album but didn’t have this particular song sadly

Though it’s a bit of a.... DRAMATIC piece to have mixed into your playlist!

[rakbladsvalsen1]

Fucking sick tune this

[rapha-reads]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXkhiIFCgAo)

Hey, this song is cool, I didn't know it ! Niiiice. :)

[olionheartedgirlo]

I’m on the train back to Toronto right now and I’m listening to this while I write. Ever since I was young I would listen to this song and it still gives me chills. 

[sptimeandrelativedimensionace]

Now I have a mental image of Chuck and Crowley playing chess...