Peace Train
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come
'Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again
Now I've been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train oh ah ee ah oh ah
Come on now peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller
Everyone jump on the peace train oh ah ee ah oh ah
Come on now peace train
Get your bags together, go bring your good friends too
'Cause it's getting nearer, it soon will be with you
Now come and join the living, it's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer, soon it will all be true
Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train oh ah ee ah oh ah
Come on now peace train, peace train
Now I've been crying lately, thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating, why can't we live in bliss
'Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again
Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train oh ah ee ah oh ah
Come on now the peace train
Yes peace train holy roller
Everyone jump on the peace train oh ah ee ah oh ah
Come on, come on, come on
Yes come on peace train
Yes it's the peace train
Oh ah ee ah oh ah
Come on now peace train
Oh peace train
The lyrics of the song "Peace Train" by 10000 Maniacs express the hope and desire for unity and peace in the world. The singer describes being happy and smiling lately, thinking of good things to come and dreaming of a world where everyone is one. She believes that something good has begun and that it will come true someday. The peace train, which rides out on the edge of darkness, symbolizes this hope for peace and harmony.
The lyrics call on the peace train to come take the country and the singer home again. The peace train is described as sounding louder and everyone is encouraged to jump on board. The singer calls for everyone to get their bags together and bring their good friends too because the peace train is getting nearer and soon it will be with them. The peace train is a symbol of hope, of a brighter future where everyone can live in bliss.
However, the song's last verse shows that the dream of peace is still just a dream. The singer has been crying lately, thinking of how the world is and why people must still hate each other. The peace train still rides out on the edge of darkness, and the singer appeals to it to take her and her country home again. The song ends with the hope that someday the peace train will come and everyone will be able to jump on board.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I've been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come
The singer is feeling content and optimistic about the future.
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
The singer has hope that positive change is happening or will happen soon.
Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
The singer envisions a world where there is unity and peace.
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come
The artist believes that a world of peace and unity is possible in the future.
'Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Despite the darkness and negativity in the world, there is a movement towards peace and unity.
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again
The singer wants to be a part of the movement towards peace and wants to feel at home in a peaceful world.
Now I've been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come
The singer is still optimistic about the future.
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
The artist continues to have hope for a better future.
Oh peace train sounding louder
The movement towards peace is gaining momentum.
Glide on the peace train oh ah ee ah oh ah
Join the movement towards peace and unity.
Come on now peace train
Encouragement to join the peaceful movement.
Yes, peace train holy roller
Referencing religious believers who are advocating for peace and unity.
Everyone jump on the peace train oh ah ee ah oh ah
Invitation for everyone to get on board with the movement towards peace and unity.
Get your bags together, go bring your good friends too
Assembling oneself and others to embark on a journey towards peace and unity.
'Cause it's getting nearer, it soon will be with you
The journey towards peace and unity is approaching and will soon be a reality.
Now come and join the living, it's not so far from you
Encouragement to join the movement towards peace and unity because it is achievable and close at hand.
And it's getting nearer, soon it will all be true
The hope for a world of peace and unity is becoming closer to reality.
Now I've been crying lately, thinking about the world as it is
The singer is feeling upset and emotional about the current state of the world.
Why must we go on hating, why can't we live in bliss
The singer questions why there is so much hate in the world and yearns for a peaceful existence for all.
'Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Despite the negativity and hate in the world, there is still hope for a peaceful future.
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again
The artist asks to be a part of the peaceful movement and longs to feel at home in a peaceful world.
Oh peace train sounding louder
The movement towards peace is gaining more momentum.
Glide on the peace train oh ah ee ah oh ah
Encouragement to join the peaceful movement and let it carry you forward.
Come on now the peace train
Invitation to join the movement towards peace.
Yes peace train holy roller
Referencing religious peace advocates once again.
Everyone jump on the peace train oh ah ee ah oh ah
Invitation for everyone to join together in the movement towards peace and unity.
Come on, come on, come on
Encouragement and urgency to join the peaceful movement.
Yes come on peace train
Another invitation to join the movement towards peace and unity.
Yes it's the peace train
Affirmation that the movement towards peace and unity is the right path to take.
Oh ah ee ah oh ah
A vocalization to add rhythm and emotion to the song.
Come on now peace train
Final call to join the movement towards peace and unity.
Oh peace train
Final reminder of the ultimate goal: a peaceful world for all.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Yusuf Islam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TampaFanatic1
"In My Tribe" was the best album of 1987! This song was on the LP and cassette versions put out back then (and probably the CD as well) but was removed in 1989 in the US from the CD after the unfortunate incident concerning Cat Stevens and Salman Rushdie. Nonetheless the album is spectacular as is this song. Thanks for posting it!
@trevl8955
Yes, Peace Train was only on first issue CD pressings before Natalie Merchant had it removed from all future pressings. However, I should point out that it didn't just affect the U.S. copies as it was also removed from the Canadian pressings. My friend has a Canadian CD pressing of In My Tribe with Peace Train removed. What's even more interesting about his copy is that Peace Train was still listed on the back of the CD case as part of the original printing; it was also still being printed directly onto the CD and it was still listed on the fold-out lyric sheet (just no lyrics for it).
@batboy3746
This was the album that got me to leave Southern California, for silicone valley in the late 1980's. This was before Google even existed. I had NO idea what I was getting myself into. I had no idea how Mountain View, CA, was the center of so much brain power, and creativity...however, I could feel it, everywhere I went. A real energy. Anyway, this sound was the backdrop to the whole experience. Good times...when the future was unwritten, and wildly optimistic, and technology was breaking.
@TampaFanatic1
@Trev L Interesting! Thanks for the info. It is a great rendition by Natalie and the Maniacs. Rob Buck is amazing with some of his guitar solos on a few of the live performances!
@aldosaynesenriquez2571
I still remenber some one very special with this song!!
@danielmarcantuno
I have the LP.
@joeherald7319
This is some combo platter! A great song and an equally great singer. There's really no one like her.
@RomyIgoeX
One of the best bands to emerge from the 80's and a welcome escape from the horrid excesses of that period.
@IanIsrael
That’s because 10,000 Maniacs were real.
@jasonph2522
What horrid excesses?