Train Song
Feist & Bon Iver Lyrics
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Train wheels beating, the wind in my eyes
Don't even know what I'll find when I get to you
Call out your name love, don't be surprised
It's so many miles and so long since I've left you
Don't even know what I'll find when I get to you
But suddenly now, I know where I belong
Nothing at all, in my head, to say to you
Only the beat of the train I'm on
Nothing I've learned all my life on the way to you
One day our love was over and gone
It's so many miles and so long since I've met you
Don't even know what I'll say when I get to you
But suddenly now, I know where I belong
It's many hundred miles and it won't be long
What will I do if there's someone there with you?
Maybe someone you've always known
How do I know I can come and give to you?
Love with no warning and find you alone
It's so many miles and so long since I've met you
Don't even know what I'll find when I get to you
But suddenly now, I know where I belong
It's many hundred miles and it won't be long
It won't be long
It won't be long
It won't be long
The opening lyrics, "Traveling north, traveling north to find you," express the strong desire to find the person they're singing to. The singer is on a journey, physically and emotionally, trying to find their place in the world and where they fit into their lover's life. They're aware that there's a distance between them and it's evident in the repetitive mention of "It's so many miles and so long since I've left you" and "It's many hundred miles and it won't be long."
The singer seems to be battling conflicting emotions. On the one hand, it's clear they long to be reunited with their lover, calling out their name and knowing suddenly where they belong. Yet, on the other hand, there's a fear of rejection or competition, as evidenced by the lyrics, "What will I do if there's someone there with you? Maybe someone you've always known. How do I know I can come and give to you? Love with no warning and find you alone." The uncertainty of what will be waiting for them when they arrive is palpable, but despite everything, they remain committed to the journey and the love they share.
Line by Line Meaning
Travelling north, travelling north to find you
I am journeying northwards with the intended purpose of finding you
Train wheels beating, the wind in my eyes
As I travel on the train, the sound of the wheels is overshadowed by the wind that hits my eyes
Don't even know what I'll find when I get to you
I am unaware of what I'll find upon reaching you
Call out your name love, don't be surprised
Upon locating you, I'll call out your name and hope for your acknowledgement
It's so many miles and so long since I've left you
It's been a considerable distance and time since I last departed from you
But suddenly now, I know where I belong
Suddenly, I am certain that where I belong is with you
It's many hundred miles and it won't be long
Although spanning many miles, my arrival to you will be soon
Nothing at all, in my head, to say to you
I have no premeditated speech in mind for you
Only the beat of the train I'm on
The only prevailing sound is the rhythm of the current train journey
Nothing I've learned all my life on the way to you
The things I've learned in my life's course have been of no use to me in arriving at you
One day our love was over and gone
At a point in time, our love appeared to have ended without remedy
What will I do if there's someone there with you?
In the event of your cohabiting with someone, what should be my course of action?
Maybe someone you've always known
This other person may be someone you've had long standing acquaintanceship with
How do I know I can come and give to you?
I'm unsure if offering my love to you is doable and acceptable
Love with no warning and find you alone
I wish to approach and express my love to you sans advance notice, and hope to find you unaccompanied
It won't be long
The wait for my arrival won't take long
It won't be long
The wait for my arrival won't take long
It won't be long
The wait for my arrival won't take long
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Alasdair Clayre, Jennifer Vashti Bunyan, Jenny Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind