Gladys Knight & The Pips, Friendship Train | Throwback Vibez

In the 59th edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Friendship Train” by Gladys Knight & The Pips.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome. In the 59^th edition of Throwback Vibez ️ (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Friendship Train” performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips.

“Chugga, chugga, woo, woo, woo, woo.” Yep, it is totally giving train ! Not just any train, by the way – a “Friendship Train”! Iconic soul group Gladys Knight & The Pips originally recorded the 14^th and final track from their 1969 album, Nitty Gritty. A Motown act, others covered “Friendship Train” including The Temptations and The Undisputed Truth (other Motown signees). Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield penned this friendship-driven Motown bop. Whitfield is also credited as the producer. A top 20 hit on the pop charts, “Friendship Train” peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It reached number two on the R&B charts.

“This train stands for justice

This train stands for freedom

This train stands for harmony and peace

This train stands for love, love, love.”

“Friendship Train” commences with an awesome bass line, followed by a sickening groove and raucous electric guitar riff.  Beyond a stirring rhythm section, the musical backdrop includes fierce, articulated horns. Gladys Knight excels with her brilliant, expressive, and soulful lead vocals.  The message of the song is to promote friendship, love, and unity, not hate.  After highlighting the ills plaguing the world (“Stealing, burning, fighting, killing, nothing but corruption”), Knight asserts in the opening verse, “We got to learn to live with each other / No, no matter what race, creed, or color /… What the world needs now / … Is love and understanding.” Knight gets some assistance in the second verse from one of The Pips briefly, once more touting love not hatred.  The chorus is where the group’s bread is buttered:  

“Come on, get on the friendship train

Everybody shake a hand, shake a hand

I’m talking ‘bout the friendship train

Get on board and shake a hand, make a friend now.” 

During the second chorus, Gladys is even grittier and more powerful. She shows off the sheer excellence of her instrument – one of the best voices of all time.  Songs in the 21^st century do not sound like “Friendship Train”. However, the message endures, particularly with a resurgence of hate promoted by arguably the most polarizing president ever.

Gladys Knight & The Pips // Nitty Gritty // Motown // 1969

Gladys Knight & The Pips, Friendship Train: Throwback Vibez ️ No. 59 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Motown; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]