Story Behind The Song

I wanted to capture my experience of going with my kids to the zoo. It is very popular with children as well as adults. It happens to be the title track of the CD, although it is not necessarily representative of the rest of the music on the CD. I like to think that much of my music has a deeper meaning than is on the surface. To me the train at the zoo is a metaphor for life, in how one experiences diversity and the differing strengths that come along with that. It also is a journey that has a beginning and an end...also an end that is possibly another beginning.

Song Description

A pop/country/rock feel to a song that describes interesting and funny things about animals at the zoo, with vivid imagery. It also describes the author's reaction to those animals as well as his shared experience of doing other fun things while at the zoo including eating snowcones, playing at the zoo's park, and stopping at the toy store.

Lyrics

1. Train At the Zoo (Brian Scott Young)
There's a train at the zoo and it goes choo choo while it takes me and you all around, to see the monkeys, lions, giraffes, and zebras; and we'll never have to leave this town. The first stop is in monkey land where they play all day and pick fleas, like hairy little people with four little hands and a tail they use to swing from the trees. Next we see the elephants with their big long ears and nose, that they use to swat flies, throw dirt, eat grass, and squirt water through like a hose.

Chorus: Train at the zoo, it goes choo choo, while it takes me and you, all around the zoo.

Let's all leave for Lion Land and listen to them roar, and watch them pant and eat and sleep and then they'll sleep some more. Cougars pounce and prowl and growl and bounce around their pen. They chase each other everywhere and then do it again. Tiger's teeth are sharp and big, and so are her claws. She roars so loud and looks so strong; we're glad her cage has bars. (chorus)

Next stop is in reptile world where its always nice and warm, 'cuz tortoises (turtles, frogs,) and lizards don't much like a big snowstorm. There's lots of different kinds of snakes; some black, some green, some brown. They have no arms or legs or feet, but somehow get around. Alligators are really big lizards that look like dinosaurs. When they wake up and show their teeth, we head right for the door. (chorus)

Let's stop and eat a red snow cone; yellow, green, or blue; cuz its so nice to have a seat and share a treat with you.
At the park, we'll go in our shell and wear a turtle's clothes; drink water from a lion's mouth; slide down the elephant's nose. Now the trip is over; but the last stop's the toy store! Let's just buy our own toy train; go home and play some more.