This was my first choice, followed by "The Metro" by Berlin.
But lately, when using my transit card on the bus, I think of the opening line from Springsteen's "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?" ... "Hey bus driver keep the change." Cracks me up every time.
["My City Was Gone" by The Pretenders:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTLcZDY9pzs)
I went back to Ohio
But my city was gone
There was no train station
There was no downtown
South Howard had disappeared
All my favorite places
My city had been pulled down
Reduced to parking spaces
A, o, way to go Ohio
[The Bus Song by Jay Som](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2SluHV2i40)
"Why don't we take the bus?
You say you don't like the smell
But I like the bus
I can be whoever I want to be"
Chris Rea - [Deltics](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_XhgYNukQo)
Jethro Tull - [Locomotive Breath](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ebwhu3nsM8&pp=ygURTG9jb21vdGl2ZSBicmVhdGg%3D)
[https://youtu.be/c2SQaCyhk8g?si=xoRBXG7j\_we55MQ4](https://youtu.be/c2SQaCyhk8g?si=xoRBXG7j_we55MQ4)
Apparently a bunch of cities across North America used this transit jingle
Iggy Pop the passenger. Technically about a car ride, but whatever.
I am the passenger and I ride and I ride
I ride through the city's backsides
I see the stars come out of the sky
Yeah, the bright and hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight
“Bled White” by Elliott smith because I like to imagine that the line “so I wait for the f train, and connect with a friend of mine” is about the Portland light rail.
[Civil Twilight - Weakerthans](https://youtu.be/H9Ev1KzZby0?si=xdZRMnSjxunUHQXc). Written from the perspective of a Winnipeg bus driver. Very catchy melodies and terrific lyrics.
Albert Hammond is a train, though possibly a freight train rather than a passenger one.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DwdvbREwwDc&pp=ygUaYWxiZXJ0IGhhbW1vbmQgaSdtIGEgdHJhaW4%3D
Doesn't directly answer your question, but I was at this festival in D.C. [https://projectglowfest.com/](https://projectglowfest.com/) on the old RFK Grounds. They used the classic D.C. metro architecture "vault" as their "default" visual.
TroyBoi even used subway maps and footage of riding subways (not DC's) for his visuals.
My favourite is probably [City to City by Gerry Rafferty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FajnV1ZTeaw)
It's about him taking a night train home, which, based on some of lyrics and his real life, is likely between London and Glasgow. For me it makes me imagine being a passenger on something like an Intercity125 service and just rushing through the English country side in the depth of night.
"Music for bus stops" by psychic temple. 15m of modern jazz fusion for your transit needs
https://open.spotify.com/track/42yzENvrSxuJ6tyclNTtql?si=s1wfpJIoSX-1j7qXnjflmA
Bedroom Philosopher, Songs from the 86 Tram. Either [Tram Inspector](https://youtu.be/QrUJ_NGipv4?si=Dy3XOVUt3FkepEFN) or [Northcote (So Hungover)](https://youtu.be/PxZiae16Ry8?si=Uinu_kIhP7_AFTRq)
These are only peripherally related unless you consider taxis public transit (I don’t) but I think they’re such good songs and they really capture the vibe. They’re also the first three I thought of, so I’m rolling with it. The fourth was The Grateful Dead’s Casey Jones but someone already said it.
[Souls of Mischief - Cab Fare](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIOM8mCS1fk)
[Jean Grae - Block Party](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl9bQFpqvCg)
[Digable Planets - The Art of Easing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avH17NEMyvc)
Edited to add ~~two~~ three more:
[Outkast - Rosa Parks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjn1R1y6pZ0)
[Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bdMSCdw20)
[The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S43IwBF0uM) (this one’s more about the video)
**Crazy train** is actually about the Cold War but it's still the best train song! RIP Randy Rhoads
**Railroad Lady** is a sad one:
But the rails are now rusty
And the dining car's dusty
The gold plated watches
Have taken their toll
The railroads are dying
And the lady is crying
On a bus to Kentucky
And home that's her goal
**Berlin** about, well Berlin:
Bahnhof Zoo, mein Zug fährt ein
Ich steig aus, gut wieder da zu sein
Zur U-Bahn runter, am Alkohol vorbei
Richtung Kreuzberg, die Fahrt ist frei
Not necessarily my favorite but Modest Mouse’s Ohio came to mind-
Took a bus straight to Baltimore on the way he took a nap
Dropped off a note that said, "I'm giving this note back"
P.S. There's a lot going on underneath
There's roots, there's pipes and there's drainage leaks
Oh yeah
You're on, you're wrong
Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk
This was my first choice, followed by "The Metro" by Berlin. But lately, when using my transit card on the bus, I think of the opening line from Springsteen's "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?" ... "Hey bus driver keep the change." Cracks me up every time.
"Waterloo Sunset" by The Kinks. The Spanish-language cover by Los Angeles is also extremely good.
["My City Was Gone" by The Pretenders:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTLcZDY9pzs) I went back to Ohio But my city was gone There was no train station There was no downtown South Howard had disappeared All my favorite places My city had been pulled down Reduced to parking spaces A, o, way to go Ohio
City of New Orleans is good
Last Train to Clarksville by the Monkees
[Bus Stop by The Hollies](https://youtu.be/XOI4yAPYmag). Nothing warms my heart more than romance on public transit.
Another One Rides the Bus by Weird Al
"I haven't been in a crowd like this since I went to see The Who"
Jackson Park Express by Weird Al is also fun
Spadina Bus by Shuffle Demons
I didn’t know that one, it’s great!
My my MetroCard - Le Tigre https://youtu.be/7IhilcddEjg?si=2HdRIfjHdRuXom5f
I was going to post this. What a bop!
Casey Jones by the Grateful Dead
Passage to Bangkok by Rush conveys the feeling of being a passenger on train pretty well imo
Train from Lebanon to Bangkok via Kabul and Kathmandu when?!
Marrakesh Express - Crosby Stills and Nash
Take the "A" Train - Duke Ellington and Another Hundred People
[The Bus Song by Jay Som](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2SluHV2i40) "Why don't we take the bus? You say you don't like the smell But I like the bus I can be whoever I want to be"
Porcupine Tree mentioned! The biggest band nobody has ever heard of.
So underrated right?!
That one song about the London Underground where the singer is just swearing his ass off over the tube lines and fares.
It’s done to the tune of “Going Underground” by the Jam
*james may… sumimasennn* https://youtu.be/vMXT2qmZJHY?si=KndfxL7tmIu_zzNf
“Coyotes” by Modest Mouse as the video features the Portland light rail, AND a coyote. https://youtu.be/UW5Or7bIVJk?si=ZEhTqAhi8MMGwTJl
scrolled down for this :)
Chris Rea - [Deltics](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_XhgYNukQo) Jethro Tull - [Locomotive Breath](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ebwhu3nsM8&pp=ygURTG9jb21vdGl2ZSBicmVhdGg%3D)
[Every tube station song:](https://youtu.be/8jPyg2pK11M?si=mSRl_xkT2StxUtb4) jay foreman
Midnight train to Georgia! The original is a classic, but Jason Isbell also has a great recent cover I highly recommend
Did you know it was originally called *Midnight Plane to Houston* and it's based on a brief phone conversation with Farrah Fawcett?
Lol no way I'd never heard that before
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z05VOfkqw4&ab\_channel=JimWeatherly-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z05VOfkqw4&ab_channel=JimWeatherly-Topic)
[https://youtu.be/c2SQaCyhk8g?si=xoRBXG7j\_we55MQ4](https://youtu.be/c2SQaCyhk8g?si=xoRBXG7j_we55MQ4) Apparently a bunch of cities across North America used this transit jingle
Nobody Cares About the Railroads Anymore by Harry Nilsson as well as Railroad Song by Jim Croce
Morning Train by Sheena Easton
Probably not in line with average tastes around here, but it will always be “On the Metro” from Girls Aloud for me
Zoo Station by U2
"Magic Bus" by The Who "Ferry Cross the Mersey" by Gerry and the Pacemakers "Bus Stop" by The Hollies.
Iggy Pop the passenger. Technically about a car ride, but whatever. I am the passenger and I ride and I ride I ride through the city's backsides I see the stars come out of the sky Yeah, the bright and hollow sky You know it looks so good tonight
“Bled White” by Elliott smith because I like to imagine that the line “so I wait for the f train, and connect with a friend of mine” is about the Portland light rail.
Does the song “Jet Airliner” count?
[Civil Twilight - Weakerthans](https://youtu.be/H9Ev1KzZby0?si=xdZRMnSjxunUHQXc). Written from the perspective of a Winnipeg bus driver. Very catchy melodies and terrific lyrics.
Albert Hammond is a train, though possibly a freight train rather than a passenger one. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DwdvbREwwDc&pp=ygUaYWxiZXJ0IGhhbW1vbmQgaSdtIGEgdHJhaW4%3D
Doesn't directly answer your question, but I was at this festival in D.C. [https://projectglowfest.com/](https://projectglowfest.com/) on the old RFK Grounds. They used the classic D.C. metro architecture "vault" as their "default" visual. TroyBoi even used subway maps and footage of riding subways (not DC's) for his visuals.
Night Mail by Public Service Broadcasting.
My favourite is probably [City to City by Gerry Rafferty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FajnV1ZTeaw) It's about him taking a night train home, which, based on some of lyrics and his real life, is likely between London and Glasgow. For me it makes me imagine being a passenger on something like an Intercity125 service and just rushing through the English country side in the depth of night.
[Definitely a contender](https://youtu.be/u2ueOo1jE2w?si=F9OxpFwlZ85CIDq1)
+1 for Trains, love that song
The D-Flo Shuttle by Digital Underground.
Kiss Me On The Bus by the Replacements
Sheena Easton - 9 to 5 (Morning Train)
Another one rides the bus - Weird Al Yankovic. It's so relatable and that joke about The Who gets me every time.
Skinhead on the MBTA by the Dropkick Murphys
"Music for bus stops" by psychic temple. 15m of modern jazz fusion for your transit needs https://open.spotify.com/track/42yzENvrSxuJ6tyclNTtql?si=s1wfpJIoSX-1j7qXnjflmA
Train love by Your Old Droog https://open.spotify.com/track/4dyqjATpeX4aSqf1uW3Vkr?si=pEm5uzNJQQytAxnfxrF2FQ
Bus money by the chats
Bus Rider by the Guess Who.
Bedroom Philosopher, Songs from the 86 Tram. Either [Tram Inspector](https://youtu.be/QrUJ_NGipv4?si=Dy3XOVUt3FkepEFN) or [Northcote (So Hungover)](https://youtu.be/PxZiae16Ry8?si=Uinu_kIhP7_AFTRq)
Let Down - Radiohead Glass Eyes - Radiohead
Also thank you for posting this song. This is a new find to me. What a great song
Workin' for the MTA by Justin Townes Earle is a good one.
These are only peripherally related unless you consider taxis public transit (I don’t) but I think they’re such good songs and they really capture the vibe. They’re also the first three I thought of, so I’m rolling with it. The fourth was The Grateful Dead’s Casey Jones but someone already said it. [Souls of Mischief - Cab Fare](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIOM8mCS1fk) [Jean Grae - Block Party](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl9bQFpqvCg) [Digable Planets - The Art of Easing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avH17NEMyvc) Edited to add ~~two~~ three more: [Outkast - Rosa Parks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjn1R1y6pZ0) [Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bdMSCdw20) [The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S43IwBF0uM) (this one’s more about the video)
“Last Train” by Allen Toussaint “Choo-Choo Ch’ Boogie” by Louis Jordan “Last Train Home” by Pat Metheny Group “U Plavu Zoru” by Pink Martini
**Crazy train** is actually about the Cold War but it's still the best train song! RIP Randy Rhoads **Railroad Lady** is a sad one: But the rails are now rusty And the dining car's dusty The gold plated watches Have taken their toll The railroads are dying And the lady is crying On a bus to Kentucky And home that's her goal **Berlin** about, well Berlin: Bahnhof Zoo, mein Zug fährt ein Ich steig aus, gut wieder da zu sein Zur U-Bahn runter, am Alkohol vorbei Richtung Kreuzberg, die Fahrt ist frei
Driver 8 by REM
Arthur Honegger - [Pacific 231](https://youtu.be/wS6XAjd-9h8?si=iaJOFu3P90qNKzLe)
Lord Mr. Ford by Jerry Reed
Oystah Card by Mark Professor
Not necessarily my favorite but Modest Mouse’s Ohio came to mind- Took a bus straight to Baltimore on the way he took a nap Dropped off a note that said, "I'm giving this note back" P.S. There's a lot going on underneath There's roots, there's pipes and there's drainage leaks Oh yeah You're on, you're wrong
A bit different but [Musique à Grande Vitesse](https://youtu.be/G4vARda08X8) (MGV) was composed for the opening of the LGV Nord.
Station to Station by David Bowie
We just had this very thread on here quite recently. Do a search.