What do you think Runaway Train means?

Soul Asylum: Runaway Train Meaning

Album cover for Runaway Train album cover

Song Released: 1993


Runaway Train Lyrics

Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a blowtorch burning
I was a key that could use a little turning

So tired that I couldn't even sleep
So many secrets I couldn't keep
Promised myself...

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  1. anonymous
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     Feb 5th 2021 !⃝

    This just again seemingly happened today in the Stuttgart area. Someone threw himself in front of a train. Stupid suicide method. In ASH they told iirc that most are simply catapulted away and break their spine. When it fails, they will be even worse off. The lyrics are so obvious. Wrong (perpendicular) jump against the rail track. Leave the rest of the metaphysical and philosophical meaning on your own so you can compensate the state of being dead better. I concluded: being dead and being alive is the same state. Void is everything and undefined is already a definition in your Nirvana. You cannot really actually get out. Be flexible in your conclusions and maybe you'll figure it out. But being in a world in which you are severely disabled and mutilated is much worse.

  2. anonymous
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     May 6th 2016 !⃝

    This song is about depression.

  3. anonymous
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     May 14th 2015 !⃝

    "Call you up in the middle of the night, like a firefly without a light"
    I interpret this as the singer being clueless, lost and that I called you for help.

    "You were there like a blow torch burning," This refers to the line before that this person was the singers light.

    "I was a key that could use a little turning," This could possibly mean that he was one that needed a little help to get started.

    "So tired that I couldn't sleep, so many secrets I couldn't keep, promised myself I wouldn't weep, one more promise I couldn't keep." I think that he was beating himself up about promises he couldn't keep, keeping it literal in the song. He couldn't handle all of the pressure he was going through.


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