Fool for a Lonesome Train
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've made promises I can't keep
Cobblestones and broken bones
Has a kingdom but he's got
No home
Last night is still ringin' in my head
Like that lonesome whistle in
The rain
I'm a fool for a lonesome train
The lifetimes we've left behind
With strangers
Promises and lies both have
Their dangers
I just can't be wrong enough
And I can't hide for long enough
So far away but I still feel
Your pain
I'm a fool for a lonesome train
I'd try to say good-bye
But I never got your name
I'm a fool for a lonesome train
I'm a fool for a lonesome train
I'm your fool for a lonesome train
I know it sounds crazy but I'm
Painfully sane
I'm your fool for a lonesome train
The lyrics of "Fool for a Lonesome Train" by Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals express feelings of regret and pain. The singer is unable to sleep and admits to making promises he couldn't keep, suggesting that he has let someone down. The image of cobblestones and broken bones refers to a metaphorical journey, with the singer feeling lost and homeless despite having achieved some measure of success. The memory of the previous night lingers in the singer's mind, expressed through the repeated image of a lonesome whistle in the rain.
The singer suggests that he has left many lifetimes behind, that he has lived through a series of relationships with strangers, and that promises and lies both have their dangers. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and vulnerability, as the singer feels unable to hide from his past or the pain that he has caused others. Ultimately, the song suggests that the singer is a "fool for a lonesome train" - he is drawn to a life of loneliness and regret, unable to break free from his pain and the memories of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
It's late and I can't sleep
The singer is unable to sleep.
I've made promises I can't keep
The singer has made commitments that they are unable to fulfill.
Cobblestones and broken bones
Life has been tough and painful.
Has a kingdom but he's got no home
Despite having wealth or status, the artist feels dispossessed.
Last night is still ringin' in my head
The events of last night are still fresh in the artist's mind.
Like that lonesome whistle in the rain
The memory of last night is haunting the singer's thoughts.
I'm a fool for a lonesome train
The singer is drawn to melancholic and lonely situations.
The lifetimes we've left behind with strangers
The artist has left past experiences and connections with unfamiliar people.
Promises and lies both have their dangers
Empty promises and dishonesty have negative consequences.
I just can't be wrong enough
The artist has made so many mistakes that they are unable to get it right.
And I can't hide for long enough
The singer cannot avoid their problems forever.
So far away but I still feel your pain
The artist is distant from someone, yet they empathize with their sorrows.
I'd try to say good-bye, but I never got your name
The singer wants to leave, but they are unable to let go of their attachment to someone.
I'm a fool for a lonesome train
The singer is repeating their interest in lonely situations.
I'm your fool for a lonesome train
The singer is willing to engage in melancholic experiences with someone else.
I know it sounds crazy but I'm painfully sane
The artist acknowledges their unusual preferences, but they are not irrational.
I'm your fool for a lonesome train
The artist reiterates their willingness to partake in melancholic situations with someone else.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: BEN C HARPER, JASON CONRAD YATES, JUAN DWAYNE NELSON, LEON LEWIS MOBLEY, MICHAEL B. WARD, OLIVER FRANCIS CHARLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind