After Tod left his previous group, Cop Shoot Cop, he quickly regrouped and formed Firewater to explore the styles of music Cop Shoot Cop had only hinted at, including klezmer, cabaret, ska, jazz, and gypsy forms. More than one source described the original Firewater lineup as an "indie rock supergroup", based on members such as Duane Denison of the Jesus Lizard, Yuval Gabay of Soul Coughing, Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields, and Hahn Rowe. This original lineup proved unable to tour, and Tod recruited new musicians for the band's first tour. While the lineup has changed over the years, with many different musicians appearing on different albums and tours, Tod remains the singer, songwriter, and bassist of Firewater.
Firewater has released six albums, and has seen some success, especially in Europe and on United States college radio stations.
Their previous album, Songs We Should Have Written, is a collection of cover songs. It includes songs written by Robyn Hitchcock, The Rolling Stones ("Paint It Black" reinterpreted as a crawlingly slow raga which "shove(s) a few downers down the song's throat to counter the original version's adrenaline-fueled fire" ), and a "dark and sweet" take of Sonny and Cher's "The Beat Goes On", described as "10 times more ominous and 20 times more pleasurable" than the original. The album also includes a modern rendition of the Johnny Cash anthem "Folsom Prison Blues".
Their latest album, The Golden Hour, has been recorded with various local musicians and friends when Tod A went on sabbatical and travelled through Thailand, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey and Israel. The record was released May 6 in 2008. The band is currently (October, 2008) touring in support of the album.
I Often Dream of Trains
Firewater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ride on them into another zone
I dream of them constantly
Heading for paradise
Or Basingstoke
Or Reading
I often dream of trains when I'm awake
They ride along beside a frozen lake
I wait for eternity
Or Basingstoke
Or Reading
I often dream of trains till it gets light
The summer turns to winter overnight
The leaves fall so suddenly
The sun sets at four o'clock
Exactly what
I'm dreading
I often dream of trains when I'm with you
I wonder if you dream about them too
Maybe we'll meet one night
Out in the corridor
I'm waiting for
You baby
The lyrics to Firewater's song "I Often Dream of Trains" are filled with vivid imagery and longing for escape. The singer describes how they frequently have dreams about trains, both when they are alone and when they are awake. In their dreams, they ride trains to different places, such as paradise, Basingstoke, and Reading. There is a sense of yearning in these dreams, as the singer seeks to leave their current situation and find something better.
As the song progresses, the dreams become more haunting. The singer describes riding alongside a frozen lake and waiting for eternity in the train's buffet car. The dreams also take on a melancholic tone, as the summer suddenly turns to winter and the leaves fall in a sudden rush. The singer seems to dread the coming darkness and isolation.
The song ends with a hint of hopefulness, as the singer wonders if their companion dreams of trains as well. They long to meet their beloved on a train, maybe in the corridor, and seem to be waiting for them. The sense of longing that permeates the song is palpable, as the singer seeks escape, connection, and a sense of purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
I often dream of trains when I'm alone
My mind often wanders towards long train rides when I find myself in solitude
I ride on them into another zone
My thoughts take me on journeys to an entirely different mental state when I imagine myself aboard trains
I dream of them constantly
My fascination with trains never seems to waver, day or night
Heading for paradise
I envision trains taking me to idyllic destinations full of joy and beauty
Or Basingstoke
Or, on the contrary, they take me to mundane, everyday places like Basingstoke
Or Reading
Or towards Reading, which also doesn't elicit strong emotions one way or the other
I often dream of trains when I'm awake
Even when I'm conscious and going about my day, my mind often goes back to trains and their allure
They ride along beside a frozen lake
In these mental adventures, I imagine myself on trains that pass by a lake covered in ice
And there in the buffet car
In these vivid visions, I see myself poised in the dining car awaiting my meal
I wait for eternity
Time seems to stand still as I bask in the peacefulness of the moment
Or Basingstoke
Or, unfortunately, to unremarkable locales such as Basingstoke
Or Reading
Or to Reading, a place that doesn't stir any strong emotions in me
I often dream of trains till it gets light
Trains occupy my mind until the dawn breaks, and my thoughts return to the present day
The summer turns to winter overnight
My thoughts can be so captivating that I lose track of time, and seasons seem to change in an instant
The leaves fall so suddenly
The imagery in my thoughts can be so realistic that it seems as though I can feel the leaves falling gently from the trees
The sun sets at four o'clock
In my mind, the sun sets surprisingly early, signaling the end of the day and a return to reality
Exactly what
This is precisely the type of thing that
I'm dreading
I am apprehensive to come back to the real world and lose the blissful state I experienced on the trains
I often dream of trains when I'm with you
Even in your presence, my thoughts can still be elsewhere, lost in the allure of train rides
I wonder if you dream about them too
I am curious if you, too, find yourself transported to fanciful train rides in your thoughts
Maybe we'll meet one night
Perhaps we will encounter each other on a beautiful train ride one evening
Out in the corridor
Possibly we will cross paths while strolling down the train's hallway
I'm waiting for
I am eagerly anticipating
You baby
Your presence would only enhance the experience of being on a train for me
Contributed by Hunter V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.