Like "Ruby Tuesday" by The Rolling Stones, Tuesday in this song is the name of a girl. It's about going away and leaving her behind.
Written by lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Allen Collins, it's another "I must be going now" song on Lynyrd Skynyrd's first album, similar in theme to "Free Bird."
There was a train track near the place where the band rehearsed. The sound of the trains inspired lead singer Ronnie Van Zant to write the first line, "Train roll on, on down the line."
The group was discovered by Al Kooper, a producer and session musician who had previously worked with Bob Dylan, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and The Zombies. Kooper played some instruments and sang backup on the album, but his contributions were credited to "Roosevelt Gook." On this track, he played a synthesizer-like instrument called a Mellotron.
Lyrics
Train roll on, on down the line
Won't you please take me far away?
Now I feel the wind blow outside my door
Means I'm, I'm leaving my woman at home
Tuesday's gone with the wind
My baby's gone with the wind again
And I don't know where I'm going
I just want to be left alone
Well, when this train ends I'll try again
But I'm leaving my woman at home
Tuesday's gone with the wind
Tuesday's gone with the wind
Tuesday's gone with the wind
My baby's gone with the wind
Train roll on
Tuesday's gone
Train roll on many miles from my home
See, I'm riding my blues away
Tuesday, you see, she had to be free
But somehow I've got to carry on
Tuesday's gone with the wind
Tuesday's gone with the wind
Tuesday's gone with the wind
My baby's gone with the wind
Train roll on
Ahh on
'Cause my baby's gone
I'm riding my blues babe
Trying to ride my blues
Ride on train
Ride on train
Ride my blues babe
Goodbye Tuesday
Goodbye Tuesday