TRAINS & BOATS & PLANES

Songs about Means of Mass or Public Transport in general

Air (Airplanes, Helicopters-Choppers, etc)

Aeroplane-ROBERT PALMER (1990)
Aeroplane-RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS (1995)
Airport-MOTORS (1978 / I hear the plane is ready by the gateway... leaving on a Jet-plane)

All She Wants To Do Is Dance-DON HENLEY (1984 / Well we barely made the airport for the last plane out) 
Angel of Harlem-U2 (1988 / When we touched the ground at JFK: the airport)
Bad Woman-KOOL & THE GANG (1984 / hurry now, your plane is leaving)
Crazy In The Night (Barking At Airplanes)-KIM CARNES (1985)
Eight Miles High-THE BYRDS (1966 / notice: although the song seems to be referring to flying, it was widely known that it was more or less related to a drug use "state of mind")
El. Venizelos-EQUALEYES (2007 / the song refers to the Athens airport)

Elegy For A Lost Summer-ANNE CLARK (1994 / plane crashes)

Highway 5-THE BLESSING (1991 / Baby takes off in a DC-10 stares down Highway 5... Flying 500 miles an hour with no sense of time or space)

I Feel Like Buddy Holly-ALVIN STARDUST (1984 / I watched the planes come in On the early morning flights But I could not stand to see them land without you)

I Get A Kick Out Of You-FRANKIE (1962 / I get no kick in a plane, flying too high with some gal in the sky)
If You’re Not Here By My Side-MENUDO (1984 / Gotta catch that plane at 7:30)
Jet Airliner-STEVE MILLER BAND (1977)
Jet Airliner-MODERN TALKING (1987)

Landing In London-3 DOORS DOWN feat. BOB SEGER (2005 / I woke up today in London as the plane was touching down)
Leaving On A Jet Plane-PETER PAUL & MARY (1969)
Let's Groove-EARTH WIND & FIRE (1981 / move yourself and glide like a 747)
The Letter-BOX TOPS (1967), JOE COCKER (1969 / give me a ticket for an aeroplane, ain't got time to take a fast train)
Lights Of Cincinatti-SCOTT WALKER (1969 / I remember still, I guess I always will that winters day I took the west bound flight, as I looked down from the plane)
Next Plane Home-DANIEL POWTER (2008)
On A Plane-KAJAGOOGOO (1984)
Rock The Casbah-THE CLASH (1982 / the king called up his jet fighters)
Rockstar-NICKELBACK (2005 & 2007 / and a big black jet with a bedroom in it, gonna join the mile high club at thirty-seven thousand feet)
Sandman-AMERICA (1971 / Ain’t it foggy outside, all the planes have been grounded)
Seeing You Again-DAN FOGELBERG (1987 / strangers in an airport.... also: running for your train)
747-EDDIE RABBITT (1980)
747 (Strangers In The Night)-SAXON (1980)
Sledgehammer-PETER GABRIEL (1986 / you could have an aeroplane flying... also: you could have a steam train)

These Foolish Things-BRYAN FERRY (A cigarette that bears a lipstick's traces An airline ticket to romantic places)

This Love-MAROON 5 (2002 / Whispered goodbye as she got on a plane)  

Woodstock-JONI MITCHELL, MATTHEWS SOUTHERN COMFORT (I dreamed I saw the bombers Riding shotgun in the sky And they were turning into butterflies Above our nation)




Sea (Boats, Ships, etc) 


All This Time-STING (1991 / If I had my way, take a boat from the river)
Blue Monday-NEW ORDER (1983 / I see a ship in the harbor)
Boat On The River-STYX (1979)
Boat To Bolivia-MARTIN STEPHENSON & THE DAINTEES (1986)

Comfortably Numb-PINK FLOYD (1979 / A distant ship smoke on the horizon)
Das Boot-KLAUS DOLDINGER (1981), U 96 (1991)
Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)-HARRY BELAFONTE (1956)

Dignity-DEACON BLUE (1987 / a ship called dignity)  
Do You Always (Have To Be Alone)?-E-TYPE (1995 / as captain of a peaceful phantom ship)
Don't Pay The Ferryman-CHRIS DE BURGH (1982)
Ferry 'Cross The Mersey-GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS (1964)

Golden Brown-THE STRANGLERS (1981 / On her ship tied to the mast)
I've Never Been To Me-CHARLENE (1976 / when I sipped champagne on a yacht)

If-BREAD / TELLY SAVALAS (1971 / If a face could launch a thousand ships Then where am I to go?)  
Immigrant Song-LED ZEPPELIN (1970 / the hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands)
The Lady Don't Mind-TALKING HEADS (1985 / Little boat that floats on a river)
Leuchtturm-NENA (1983 / Hey, halt dich fest, das U-Boot taucht)
Night Boat To Cairo-MADNESS (1979)

Ocean Rain-ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN (1984 / my ship's a sail)

Red Sky-THRICE (2005 / I know what lies beneath, I've seen the flash of teeth conspiring with the reef to sink our ship)
Sailing Away-CHRIS DeBURGH (1988 / Waiting at the water's edge, Watching all the ships as they are heading for the harbour wall)

Sea Of Heartbreak-POCO (1981 / The lights in the harbor Don't shine for me I'm like a lost ship Adrift on the sea)
Ship Of Fools-ERASURE (1988)

Sonnet-THE VERVE (1997 / Sinking faster than a boat without a hull)

Sorrow-MORT SHUMAN (1976 / Like a ship without a sailor)
Speedboat-LLOYD COLE & THE COMMOTIONS (1984)
Strange Boat-THE WATERBOYS (1988)

The Soul Cages-STING (1990 / I have here a cask of most magical wine A vintage that blessed every ship in the line It's wrung from the blood of the sailor's who died Young white bodies adrift in the tide... A body lies open in the fisherman's yard Like the side of a ship where the iceberg rips)

The Other Side Of The Sun-JANIS IAN (1979 / Leaving on a boat For beyond the other side of the ocean)
Rock The Boat-THE HUES CORPORATION (1973), FORREST (1982)

Weather With You-CROWDED HOUSE (1992 / Well, there's a small boat made of china It's going nowhere on the mantelpiece)
Whole Of The Moon-WATERBOYS (1985 / Flags, rags, ferry boats, scimitars and scarves)
Why-ANNIE LENNOX (1992 / this boat is sinking)

Yellow Submarine-THE BEATLES (1966)

You & I-MADLEEN KANE (1979 / like a ship forever sailing)

Special category: Ships used allegorically

Can't Fight This Feeling-REO SPEEDWAGON (1985 / Its time to bring this ship into the shore)

Catch The Rainbow-RAINBOW (1975 / sail away on ships of wonder)

Closer To Fine-INDIGO GIRLS (1989 / I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it I'm crawling on your shores)
I'll Sail This Ship Alone-THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH (1989)

King Of Wishful Thinking-GO WEST (1990 / I'll get over you I know I will I'll pretend my ship's not sinking)  
My Ship Is Comin’ In-THE WALKER BROTHERS (1965)
9 To 5-DOLLY PARTON (1980 / till the day your ship will come in)
Night & Fog-MERCURY REV (2001 / I hope you see your ship come in)
Uptown Girl-BILLY JOEL (1983 / when my ship comes in) 

Space (well... maybe in science fiction)

Clouds Across The Moon-RAH BAND (1985 / flight commander B. R. Johnson on Mars Flight 247)
No Doubt About It-HOT CHOCOLATE (1980 / what was this ship from outta space?)




Trains


A Girl Called Johnny-THE WATERBOYS (1983 / The train came to town, boy she got on it With no looking back, with not a word If she said goodbye, well I never heard But the noise goes on)

Around The World In A Day-PRINCE (1985 / Open your heart, open your mind A train is leaving all day)
Auberge-CHRIS REA (1991 / On the hard fast train On the road to gain)
Back On The Chain Gang-THE PRETENDERS (1982 / we're back on the train)
Bakerman-LAID BACK (1989 / night train)
Candybar Express-LOVE & MONEY (1986)
Charlotte Street-LLOYD COLE & THE COMMOTIONS (1984 / here comes my train)
Chattanooga Choo Choo-GLENN MILLER (1941), FLOYD CRAMER (1962)
Choo Choo Train-THE BOX TOPS (1968)
City of New Orleans-ARLO GUTHRIE (1972)
Crazy-AEROSMITH (1992 & 1994 / Say you're leavin' on a seven thirty train and that you're headin' out to Hollywood)
Crazy Train-OZZY OSBOURNE (1980)
The Day Before You Came-ABBA (1982), BLANCMANGE (1983 / my train, I'm certain, left the station just when it was due)
Don't Stop Believin'-JOURNEY (1981)
Downtown Train-TOM WAITS (1985), ROD STEWART (1989)

Fantastic Day-HAIRCUT 100 (1982 / Well there's a great amount of strain about getting on that train)

The Gambler- KENNY ROGERS (1978 / On a warm summer's evening On a train bound for nowhere I met up with the gambler)
Green, Green Grass Of Home-TOM JONES (1966 / The old home town looks the same as I step down from the train and there to meet me is my Mama and Papa)

Half The World-BELINDA CARLISLE (1992 / the train that takes you from me brings somebody home)
It's A Man's Man's Man's World-JAMES BROWN (1966 / man made the trains to carry heavy loads)
Justify My Love-MADONNA (1990 / make love in a train cross-country)
King Of The Road-ROGER MILLER (1965 / Third boxcar, midnight train, destination... Bangor, Maine)
La Solitudine-LAURA PAUSINI (1993 / e il treno delle 7:30 senza lui - english translation)

Lady Godiva's Room-SIMPLY RED  (1987 / The day we kissed on the Mistletoe train)
Last Train To Clarksville-THE MONKEES (1966)
Last Train To Heaven-PAUL KELLY & THE MESSENGERS (1986)
Last Train To London-ELO (1979)
Last Train To Trancentral-KLF (1991)
Life In A Northern Town-THE DREAM ACADEMY (1985 / as the train rolled out of sight, bye bye)
Locomotive Breath-JETHRO TULL (1971 / Thank God, he stole the handle and the train won't stop going)
Long Train Runnin'-DOOBIE BROTHERS (1973), BANANARAMA (1991)
Looking For Linda-HUE & CRY (1988 / I was not looking for Linda, but Linda found me hiding away on the slow train home)
Love At First Sight-GIST (1982 / I was waiting at the station when your train came in)
Love Train-HOLLY JOHNSON (1989)
Love Train-O’JAYS (1972)
Manic Monday-THE BANGLES (1985, 1986 / Have to catch an early train Got to be to work by nine)
Maria-BLONDIE (1999 / your heart beats like a subway train)
Marrakesh Express-CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (1969)
Midnight Train To Georgia-GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (1973)
Midnight Special-TRADITIONAL / VAN MORISSON (1967)
Missing-EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL (1994 / I step off the train)
Most Of All-B.J. THOMAS (1970 / I'm at the railway station in Saint Paul)

Mystery Train-ELVIS PRESLEY (1955)
Never Marry A Railroad Man-SHOCKING BLUE (1970 / his heart is at his new train)
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down-THE BAND (1969), JOAN BAEZ (1971 / I drove on the Danville train 'Til so much cavalry came And tore up the tracks again In the winter of sixty-five We were hungry, just barely alive I took the train to Richmond that fell)
Night Train-ANDY TAYLOR (1987)
9 To 5-SHEENA EASTON (1980 / my baby takes the morning train)
Nightrain-GUNS 'N ROSES (1989 / Loaded like a freight train, flyin' like an aeroplane)
One Way Ticket-NEIL SEDAKA (1959), ERUPTION (1978 / choo choo train)
Out Of Time Man-MANO NEGRA (1991 / Tryin' to catch this fuckin train... With my anger and pain in the subway train)

People Get Ready-THE IMPRESSIONS (1965 / People get ready There's a train a comin' You don't need no baggage You just get on board All you need is faith To hear the diesels hummin' You don't need no ticket You just thank the Lord)
Peace Train-CAT STEVENS (1971)

Perfect Timing-Y'AKOTO (2014 / I missed the train I missed the bus I missed the plane The perfect timing)
Rainy Night In Georgia-BROOK BENTON (1969 / a distant moaning of a train Seems to play a sad refrain... Find my place in the boxcar So I take my guitar, to pass some time)

Rhinestone Cowboy-GLEN CAMPBELL (1975 / you're down when you're riding a train that's takin' the long way... with a subway token

Riding On A Train-THE PASADENAS (1988 / choo choo train she’s riding)

RockFerry-DUFFY (2007 / the midnight trains are boarding)

Seven Days-JOE COCKER (1982 / I'll be waiting at the station... she's coming in on the Fourth) 

Shooting Shark-BLUE OYSTER CULT (1984 / Want to run the train alone But the engine tracks straight through your heart... Accept the rails remove yourself from her side Do without her love As I lay back in the speeding train)
Slow Train To Dawn-THE THE (1986)
Smalltown Boy-BRONSKI BEAT (1984 / alone on a platform)
Somewhere Down The Crazy River-ROBBIE ROBERTSON (1987 / catch the blue train to places never been before)
Soul Train-SWANS WAY (1984)
Sowing The Seeds Of Love-TEARS FOR FEARS (1989 / the love train rides from coast to coast)
Spanish Train-CHRIS DE BURGH (1975)
Stop That Train-CLINT EASTWOOD & GENERAL SAINT (1983)
Stuck On You-LIONEL RICHIE (1983 / I'm leaving on that midnight train tomorrow)
Sylvia's Mother-DR. HOOK & THE MEDICINE SHOW (1971 / Sylvia's mother says "Sylvia's hurryin', She's catchin' the nine o'clock train")
Take It Round Again-THE CRY (1984 / come & catch the train)
That's Love-JIM CAPALDI (1983 / You walk out the door head for the train then in a while you're back again)
This City Never Sleeps-EURYTHMICS (1983 / You can hear the sound of the underground trains <sound of a train>)

Time Passages-AL STEWART (1978 / Buy me a ticket on the last train home tonight)
Tom’s Diner-SUZANNE VEGA (1987 / it’s time to catch the train)
Took The Last Train-DAVID GATES (1977)

The Power Of Love-HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (1985 /   And it don't take money, don't take fame Don't need no credit card to ride this train)
The Train-THE NITS (1988 / "sound of a train")
Train Leaves At 8-MIKIS THEODORAKIS, THE WALKABOUTS (2000)
Trains And Boats And Planes-BURT BACHARACH (1965), DIONNE WARWICK (1966)
Trans Europe Express-KRAFTWERK (1977)
Ventura Highway-AMERICA (1972 / Waitin' for the early train)
Waiting For A Train- FLASH & THE PAN (1982)
(Waiting For The) Ghost Train-MADNESS (1986)

Waiting To See You-DAN HARTMAN (1986 / You will be here on the next train moving slowly through the warm rain)

Wild Horses-GINO VANNELLI (1987 / And the wind whistles by like a runaway train)

Wish We Were Heroes-MELISSA MANCHESTER feat. DAVID GATES (1982 / two heroes waiting from the back of a train)  
The Worker-FISHER Z (1979 / The hated journey on the train)
Yellow Moon-THE NEVILLE BROTHERS (1989 / Did you see my baby, walking down the railroad tracks?)


Special category: Jumping or riding someone else's train

Don’t Cross The River-AMERICA (1972 / If you want you can ride my train)
Heartbeat City-THE CARS (1984 / when you jumped that train)
Jumping Someone Else's Train-THE CURE (1979) 

When Love Comes To Town-U2 featuring B. B. KING (1988 / I’m gonna jump that train)



Metaphorically-Allegorically:

A Song For The Lovers-RICHARD ASHCROFT (2000 / I'm moving like a train into some foreign land I ain't got a ticket for this ride, but I will)
Born On The Bayou-CCR (1969 / Wishin I were a fast freight train, Just a chooglin on down to new orleans)
Downbound Train-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (1984)

Dream Weaver-GARY WRIGHT (1975 / I’ve just closed my eyes again, climbed aboard the dream weaver train)
I'm On Fire-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (1984 / and a freight train running in the middle of my head)
Passengers-ELTON JOHN (1984) 
Rain In The Summertime-THE ALARM (1987 / sweat, like a train I come)
Runaway Train-SOUL ASYLUM (1992)
Shooting Shark-BLUE OYSTER CULT (1983 / wanna run my train alone but the engine tracks straight through your heart)
Train Of Thought-A HA (1985)

When The Going Gets Tough-BILLY OCEAN (1985 / Your love's like a slow train coming)
You Drive Me Crazy-SHAKIN' STEVENS (1981 / my heart starts speeding like a train on a track)



Various

Get Here-BRENDA RUSSELL (1988), OLETA ADAMS (1990)
Lyrics:
You can reach me by railway,
you can reach me by trailway
You can reach me on an airplane,
you can reach me with your mind
You can reach me by caravan,
cross the desert like an Arab man
I don't care how you get here,
just - get here if you can
You can reach me by sail boat,
climb a tree and swing rope to rope
Take a sled and slide down the slope,
into these arms of mine
You can jump on a speedy colt,
cross the border in a blaze of hope
I don't care how you get here,
just - get here if you can
There are hills and mountains between us
Always something to get over
If I had my way, surely you would be closer
I need you closer
You can windsurf into my life,
take me up on a carpet ride
You can make it in a big balloon,
but you better make it soon
You can reach me by caravan,
cross the desert like an Arab man
I don't care how you get here,
just - get here if you can
I don't care how you get here,
just -- get here if - you can.