Big Head Todd and The Monsters – singer-guitarist Todd Park Mohr, bassist-singer Rob Squires, drummer-singer Brian Nevin and keyboardist-guitarist-singer Jeremy Lawton -- could have begun resting on their laurels back in 1993, when their Top 10 singles “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior,” “Circle” and “It’s Alright” pushed the album Sister Sweetly to platinum certification. However, Mohr says, “I’ve fought throughout our career not to be a one-trick pony, to be the kind of band that has depth and diversity in its catalogue. I’m a fan of this band, and I’m constantly looking forward to what comes next.”
The essence of Big Head Todd and The Monsters – a rootsy, emotionally direct variety of rock ’n’ roll that lends itself particularly well to a live setting – has been winning fans since Mohr, Rob Squires and Brian Nevin started playing together in high school (Jeremy Lawton joined in 2004). Needless to say, the three never expected to be in the same band at this late date, but, as Mohr points out, “It was a really fortunate combination of musical personalities, and we’re still partners in every sense of the word.”
The band spent seven years developing their chemistry and amassing a following, boosted significantly by the independent releases Another Mayberry (1989) and Midnight Radio (1990), before being “discovered” by the listening public at large with 1993’s Sister Sweetly. After a major-label stint (Sister Sweetly, 1994’s Stratagem, 1997’s Beautiful World), during which the trio increasingly found itself frustrated artistically, they reclaimed their independent status (2001’s Riviera, 2004’s Crimes of Passion). “If it were not for our ability to do things for ourselves, we would have disappeared a long time ago,” Mohr allows.
Runaway Train
Big Head Todd and the Monsters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can you hold yourself down?
You carry on like this every other day
You're turning into the sound
You've got touchin' on the line, but leaving is on your mind
You tell me everything is fine, just fine
On a runaway train tonight
You say you are leaving this town
Drive me up to your hideaway, as you were burning it down
Now I need a reason to keep away, or get up off my back
I can't stop it or turn away until I run out of track
I got touchin' on the line, but leaving is on my mind
I'll tell you everything is fine - just fine
On a runaway train tonight
In the song Runaway Train by Big Head Todd and the Monsters, the first verse seems to be directed towards a person who is struggling with their own inner demons. The lyrics "I keep wishing you'd fly away, how can you hold yourself down?" suggest that the singer is either witnessing or experiencing emotional turmoil and is wishing that the person they're singing to would find a way to release themselves from it. The next line "You carry on like this every other day, you're turning into the sound" implies that this is a pattern for the person, and they are becoming almost inextricably linked to their own struggle, that they are embodying the very sound of it.
The second verse appears to be the person struggling with their own demons speaking to the singer. They say "You say 'I love you in another way', you say you are leaving this town" which implies that the singer is in a romantic or at least deep personal relationship with the person, but that it is ending. The phrase "Drive me up to your hideaway, as you were burning it down" suggests that there is some reckless or self-destructive behavior happening within this situation. The chorus, "On a runaway train tonight", ties the two verses together, suggesting that both speaker and listener are on a path that cannot be controlled or predicted, and that they are hurtling towards an out-of-control situation.
The song seems to be exploring the idea of being caught up in something that is beyond your control, and whether or not it's possible to try and change course. The repeated phrase "I've got touchin' on the line, but leaving is on my mind, I'll tell you everything is fine – just fine" suggests that the person is both holding onto something (touching on the line), but also knows that they might need to let go and move on (leaving is on my mind) and yet they insist that everything is okay. There seems to be a sense of desperation and urgency in the song, as if the characters are careening towards some unknown fate without knowing how to stop it.
Line by Line Meaning
I keep wishing you'd fly away
I want you to leave me and not hold onto me
How can you hold yourself down?
Why are you not allowing yourself to be free and limit your own potential?
You carry on like this every other day
Your behavior is the same and consistent
You're turning into the sound
You are becoming your own story, a reflection of your own past
You've got touchin' on the line, but leaving is on your mind
You're experiencing a push and pull, struggling between staying or leaving
You tell me everything is fine, just fine
You give the impression that everything is okay, but it's not
On a runaway train tonight
Your life is out of control and headed in an unknown direction
You say 'I love you in another way'
Your love for me is changing or you love me differently than before
You say you are leaving this town
You are thinking of starting fresh and leaving behind the place you call home
Drive me up to your hideaway, as you were burning it down
You're asking for a ride and inviting me into your life's chaos
Now I need a reason to keep away, or get up off my back
I need a purpose to stay away or to stop interfering
I can't stop it or turn away until I run out of track
I'm incapable of leaving you until the very end
I got touchin' on the line, but leaving is on my mind
I am stuck between what I want and what I should do
I'll tell you everything is fine - just fine
I'll pretend that things are okay, when they are not
On a runaway train tonight
Both of us are out of control, headed in directions we cannot predict
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TODD PARK MOHR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OnTheRecord
As a guitarist, song writer and bar band player, just holy shit. The whole band is incredibly tight. Todd is one of the most underrated blues players living. His song writing, chord phrasing complexity (and simplicity), phrasing. It’s just all spot on and genuine. These guy are just damn good and they deserve all the success they have. Period.
jerry cudd
true this!
Terence Campbell
I will probably never get to see Big Head Todd and The Monsters LIVE so I'm very grateful they share their great performances-THANK U !
David Martinez
It’s a bucket list concert. Especially at red rocks the first or second weekend in June. So worth it
H In The Groove
At my age YouTube premium beats a front row seat, every day of the week.
Dan Noble
What a tight group, Love them
Steve Trivago
Wow... forgot how talented this band is...
Fred Flintstone
Shame on you....
John France
Having recently discovered this band i am very impressed indeed
Jim Robinette
They knocked it out of the park with this number!