RUNAWAY TRAIN
Dynamite Lyrics


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Soul Asylum (Group)
Runaway Train (Song)
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 I Wouldn′t Weep
One More Promise I Couldn't Keep
It Seems No One Can Help Me Now
I'm In Too Deep There′s No Way Out
This Time I Have Really Led Myself Astray
Runaway Train Never Going Back
Wrong Way On A One Way Track
Seems Like I Should Be Getting Somewhere
Somehow I′m Neither Here Nor There
Can You Help Me Remember How To Smile
Make It Somehow All Seem Worthwhile
How On Earth Did I Get So Jaded
Life's Mystery Seems So Faded
I Can Go Where No One Else Can Go
I Know What No One Else Knows
Here I Am Just Drownin′ In The Rain
With A Ticket For A Runaway Train
Everything Is Cut And Dry Day And Night Earth And Sky
Somehow I Just Don't Believe It
Bought A Ticket For A Runaway Train
Like A Madman Laughin′ At The Rain
Little Out Of Touch Little Insane
Just Easier Than Dealing With The Pain
Runaway Train Never Comin' Back
Runaway Train Tearin′ Up The Track
Runaway Train Burnin' Up My Veins
Runaway But It Always Seems The Same
Written By David Pirner
(C) 1992 Wb Music Corplfr Music (Ascap) All Rights
Administered By Wb Music Corp




All Right Reserved Used By Permission
44k 74947 (Cd5)

Overall Meaning

Soul Asylum's "Runaway Train" describes a person who is struggling with their own problems and reaching out for help. The first verse depicts the singer who is sleepless due to the many secrets they are keeping from the rest of the world. They admit that all the promises they made were unkept and they are now too deep in trouble with no one to help them. The second verse talks about the person's lost identity, their lack of purpose, and the feeling of being somewhere in between. They need someone to show them how to smile and see the worth in life.


The chorus of "Runaway Train" becomes a metaphor for someone who is lost and unable to get back on track. It seems that every person in their life has abandoned them and they are pushing themselves towards unhappiness by buying a ticket for a runaway train. This is a message of hopelessness borne out of being abandoned in the world, and with no one to turn to. However, the song ends on a positive note, with the singer stating that while they are drowning in the rain, they know something that no one else knows, and they can go where no one else can go.


Line by Line Meaning

Call You Up In The Middle Of The Night
I am so lost and alone that I cannot sleep and the only thing I can think to do is reach out to you for help.


Like A Firefly Without A Light
I am wandering aimlessly, searching for any kind of direction or guiding light to help me find my way.


You Were There Like A Blowtorch Burning
You came into my life with such overwhelming intensity and passion, igniting in me an unstoppable desire and drive.


I Was A Key That Could Use A Little Turning
I felt stagnant and stuck in life until you came along and breathed new purpose into me, giving me the motivation to do better.


So Tired That I Couldn′t Even Sleep
I am so drained and exhausted from everything going on in my life that I cannot even find rest or respite in my own mind.


So Many Secrets I Couldn't Keep
I have too much burden and too many things weighing heavy in my heart, so much so that I cannot keep them all buried inside anymore.


Promised Myself I Wouldn′t Weep
I told myself that I would be strong and not let my struggles affect me, but I find myself breaking down and crying anyway.


One More Promise I Couldn't Keep
I made so many promises to myself and others, but in the end, I couldn't keep them all, adding to the weight of my guilt and disappointment.


It Seems No One Can Help Me Now
I feel so lost and alone with my problems that I do not believe anyone or anything can help me get out of this dark hole.


I'm In Too Deep There′s No Way Out
I am in so deep with my issues that I do not see a way to climb back out or escape the negative cycle I have found myself in.


This Time I Have Really Led Myself Astray
I know that I made bad decisions and took the wrong path, leading me farther from where I truly want to be in life.


Runaway Train Never Going Back
I feel as though I am on a runaway train, careening out of control and unable to turn back toward safety or stability.


Wrong Way On A One Way Track
I know that I am headed down the wrong path, even though it is the only one available to me, leaving me feeling trapped and hopeless.


Seems Like I Should Be Getting Somewhere
Though I am trying so hard, it feels as though I am simply spinning my wheels and not making any real progress in life.


Somehow I′m Neither Here Nor There
I feel as though I am stuck in a sort of limbo, neither moving forward in life nor able to go back to where I was before.


Can You Help Me Remember How To Smile
I have lost my sense of joy and wonder in life, and I am hoping that you can help me rediscover it once again.


Make It Somehow All Seem Worthwhile
I need to feel like all of the struggles and hardships in life are leading me somewhere and will ultimately be worth it in the end.


How On Earth Did I Get So Jaded
I am struggling to understand how I went from a hopeful, optimistic person to one who is cynical, pessimistic, and jaded about the world.


Life's Mystery Seems So Faded
Everything used to have a sense of wonder, magic, and mystery to it, but now everything seems dull, meaningless, and mundane.


I Can Go Where No One Else Can Go
Even though I am struggling in life, I know that my unique experiences and perspective can take me to places that others cannot reach.


I Know What No One Else Knows
I possess a special knowledge and understanding of the world that gives me the insight and foresight to anticipate challenges and find solutions in life.


Here I Am Just Drownin′ In The Rain
I find myself feeling lost, helpless, and broken, like I am drowning in the problems and challenges that have rained down on my life.


With A Ticket For A Runaway Train
I feel like my life is out of control and moving too fast, like I am on a runaway train with no brakes or way to slow down.


Everything Is Cut And Dry Day And Night Earth And Sky
Life used to be full of surprises, twists, and turns, but now it all feels predictable and boring, like everything has already been set in stone.


Somehow I Just Don't Believe It
I find myself struggling to believe that life is that simple and straightforward, that there must be more to it than what meets the eye.


Bought A Ticket For A Runaway Train
I feel like I have made so many foolish and reckless decisions in life, that I have bought myself a one-way ticket on a runaway train with no end in sight.


Like A Madman Laughin′ At The Rain
I am feeling so overwhelmed by life that I find myself laughing in despair, like a madman trying to make sense of the chaos around me.


Little Out Of Touch Little Insane
I am feeling the weight of my mental struggles and the way they have distanced me from the world around me, leaving me feeling isolated and disconnected.


Just Easier Than Dealing With The Pain
I find myself making reckless, destructive decisions in life because it feels easier than confronting the emotional pain and turmoil inside of me.


Runaway Train Never Comin' Back
I feel like there is no hope or possibility of returning to a happier, more stable life, that I am forever doomed to be on this runaway train.


Runaway Train Tearin′ Up The Track
My life feels like it is in complete chaos and disarray, with everything moving too fast and tearing up everything in its path.


Runaway Train Burnin' Up My Veins
The stress, pressure, and emotional pain I am feeling is consuming me from within, burning through my veins and leaving me feeling numb and helpless.


Runaway But It Always Seems The Same
No matter how far I run or how hard I try to escape my problems, they always seem to follow me or find me once again, leaving me feeling trapped and helpless.




Writer(s): Pirner David Anthony

Contributed by Christian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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