Hot Rails to Hell

"Hot Rails to Hell" is the fourth track from Blue Öyster Cult's second studio album, Tyranny and Mutation. It is the first single from the album. The lyrics refer heavily to the death of Phil King, an acquaintance of Joe Bouchard.

Blue Öyster Cult

 * Eric Bloom - vocals, stun guitar, synthesizers
 * Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser - lead guitar, vocals
 * Allen Lanier - keyboards, vocals
 * Joe Bouchard - bass, keyboards, vocals
 * Albert Bouchard, drums, vocals

Production

 * Murray Krugman - producer
 * Sandy Pearlman - producer
 * Tim Geelan - engineer
 * Lou Schlossberg - engineer
 * Phil Giambalvo - engineer
 * Jack Ashkinazy - mastering

Lyrics
Riding the underground Swimming in sweat A rumble above and below Hey cop don’t you know The heat’s on all right The hot summer day didn’t quit for the night

1277 express to heaven Speeding along like dynamite 1277 express to heaven Rumbles the steel like a dogfight You caught me in its spell Trying to leave but you know darn well The heat from below can burn your eyes out

Blackened out eyes Scratched on the wall Stoned out looks from the crowd The king will not know On the wall it was said The flash of his cards was sprayed with red

1277 express to heaven Speeding along like dynamite 1277 express to heaven Rumbles the steel like a dogfight You caught me in its spell Trying to leave but you know darn well The heat from below can burn your eyes out

1277 express to… 1277 express to… 1277 express to heaven Speeding along like dynamite 1277 express to heaven Rumbles the steel like a dogfight You caught me in its spell Trying to leave but you know darn well The heat from below can burn Yeah burn! Your eyes out Your eyes out

Your eyes out! (out! out! out! out! out! out! out! out!)

Trivia

 * Live performances combine the first and second verses into one verse. The word "darn" is also replaced with "damn."