Thunderstruck

The lyrics move from danger and helplessness to excitement and wild enjoyment. At first, the speaker is trapped on a railroad track and feels there is no way back or anyone to help. Later, the story becomes a fast, carefree trip, with rule-breaking, partying, and a strong sense of pleasure. The repeated word “thunderstruck” gives the whole song an intense, energetic feeling.

The railroad track suggests being caught in a dangerous situation with few choices. “My mind raced” means the speaker’s thoughts moved quickly as he tried to decide what to do. The thunder imagery also appears in “the sound of the drums” and “the thunder of guns”: it suggests loud, forceful sensations that overwhelm him. “Shaking at the knees” is an idiom for feeling nervous or overwhelmed; here, it may also express excitement.

“Thunderstruck” can mean stunned or deeply affected, as if hit by a powerful force. The lyrics leave open whether that force is fear, music, attraction, or the excitement of the night. The change from danger to celebration is abrupt, so the railroad scene may be a separate dramatic image rather than part of a literal, continuous story. The song’s meaning is therefore less a clear narrative than an expression of intense energy and sensation.