Meaning of “Zion Train” by Bob Marley

“Zion Train” is a song performed by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The lyrics of the song, which Marley wrote shortly before he died of cancer in 1981, center heavily on Marley’s Rastafarian beliefs.

The song’s lyrics mainly see the narrator (Bob Marley) advising people to “get on board” the “Zion train”, which according to him is coming their way. In his eyes, boarding this train will save their souls in the end.

What is “Zion Train”?

In the song, Marley also refers to Zion Train as “Soul train”. In Rastafarianism, Zion or Mount Zion refers to an earthly paradise/heaven that is located in Ethiopia, Africa.

From the definition above, it is apparent  that Marley Zion train is the train or rather the channel Marley wants people to follow to get to the

The train saves souls

Marley uses the song to advise people that hopping aboard the Zion/Soul train is the only way to save their souls. Apparently the Zion/Soul Train is a metaphor for the path or channel that leads to Heaven. He therefore cautions us to be wise and not gain the world and lose our souls. According to him, wisdom is always better than silver and gold. We should therefore be wise and use the ticket the Lord has blessed us with to get on board the Soul train. This train, as the name implies, will take mankind to Zion (Heaven).

Facts about “Zion Train”

• The song was written solely by Bob Marley. Along with such iconic songs as “Redemption Song”, this tune was one of the last songs he wrote shortly before his shocking death in 1981.
• While writing this song, Marley was fully aware that it was only just a matter of time that the cancer he was battling with would eventually kill him.
• Marley produced the track alongside his longtime collaborator, the noted English record producer Chris Blackwell.
• “Zion Train” is the sixth track from the album Uprising by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Uprising was the last studio album released during Marley’s lifetime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vaEjIFDACc

Does “Zion Train” have a music video?

No official music video of this song was ever made.

Which artists have sampled or used parts of “Zion Train” in their songs?

One of the most notable samples of this song is in the 2013 song “Gain the World” by the American hip hop duo Rebel Diaz.

Has anyone noticed that “Thunderclouds” by LSD kind of sounds like “Zion Train”?

Yes, we have noticed that! The part where Bob Marley sings “Zion train is coming our way” sounds very similar to a significant part of the chorus of the 2018 song “Thunderclouds” by the supergroup LSD.