"Long Train Runnin'" (or "Long Train Running") is a song written by musician Tom Johnston and recorded by The Doobie Brothers. It was included on the band's 1973 album The Captain and Me and released as a single, becoming a top-ten hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number eight. This song became very famous for its intro with the guitar.

Nearly twenty years later, "Long Train Runnin'" became a hit in the UK twice. In 1991, the song was covered by English girl group Bananarama, and in 1993, the Doobie Brothers version was remixed and hit the top ten.

The song is sometimes titled "Long Train Runnin' (Without Love)" due to the words "without love" being sung twice in the chorus.

The tune evolved from an untitled and mostly ad-libbed jam that the Doobies developed onstage years before it was finally recorded. Its working title, according to Johnston, was "Rosie Pig Moseley" and later "Osborn". "I didn't want to cut it," Johnston later confessed. "...I just considered it a bar song without a lot of merit. Teddy [Templeman], on the other hand, thought it had some." Templeman convinced Johnston to write words to the song.

Johnston performed the signature harmonica solo as well as the lead vocal and the distinctive, rhythmic guitar strumming that propels the song. In an interview with Songfacts Johnston revealed that he "wrote the words sitting in the bathroom at Amigo Studios" in Burbank, California.[1]

Single by The Doobie Brothers
from the album The Captain and Me
B-side "Without You"
Released March 28, 1973
Format 7" single
Recorded 1973
Genre Funk rock
Length 3:25
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Tom Johnston
Producer Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers singles chronology
"Jesus Is Just Alright"
(1972) "Long Train Runnin'"
(1973) "China Grove"
(1973)

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