Waiting for a Train
Flash and the Pan Lyrics
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I must be getting old
Looks like I'm gonna have to wait a while
What the hell, I'm bored
What's that there on the railway line
Looks like my old brown shoe
It ain't mine mister, how's that for laughs
Not even how do you do
Wonder what's cooking at the house tonight
Stew and beans
Tune that station, turn that dial
Have another dream
Ain't it stupid how some people stare
Not even how do you do
What's that mister - na na na
I'm just the same as you
Chorus:
Running down the main line
Shaking off the pain
Heading for a bright time
Waiting for a train
Who's that guy, I've seen his face before
Where or when
Must be another face from Suzie's bar
It was different then
Ain't no way that I can fix this up
I've really lost the place
What's that mister, yeah yeah
I hope they fix you face
1. She says you don't make it
2. She said you don't care
3. She said she's unhappy
4. That you're never there
5. She give you the option
6. You sink or you drown
7. Well what's it to be Jo
(chorus)
The song "Waiting for a Train" by Flash and the Pan is a reflective tune that touches on the nostalgia of the past and the uncertainties of the present. The opening lines, "Wonder why it's getting cold at night, I must be getting old" suggests a sense of melancholy and disillusionment with the ageing process. The singer seems to find himself waiting for something, perhaps a train that will take him away from his current state of mind. The mention of the old brown shoe on the railway line reinforces the idea of time passing and things changing unexpectedly.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of societal expectations and conformity. The lines "Ain't it stupid how some people stare, not even how do you do, what's that mister - na na na, I'm just the same as you" suggest the frustration of feeling judged or misunderstood by others. The singer seems to reject the idea of following the norm and fits in with everyone else.
The chorus "Running down the main line, shaking off the pain, heading for a bright time, waiting for a train" further reinforces the idea of leaving behind the pain and struggles of the present and looking forward to a brighter future. Overall, the song presents a relatable theme of grappling with the passage of time, societal pressure, and the desire for something better.
Line by Line Meaning
Wonder why it's getting cold at night
I am curious about the sudden drop in temperature during the night
I must be getting old
I am growing old and sensitive to changes in temperature
Looks like I'm gonna have to wait a while
Seems like I have to remain patient for some time
What the hell, I'm bored
I am bored and waiting seems like the only option
What's that there on the railway line
I see an object on the tracks
Looks like my old brown shoe
The object on the tracks looks like a shoe I owned
It ain't mine mister, how's that for laughs
It's not mine, which admittedly is quite funny
Not even how do you do
The man I am addressing didn't even acknowledge my remark
Wonder what's cooking at the house tonight
I wonder what food is being prepared at home tonight
Stew and beans
Perhaps it's just stew and beans
Tune that station, turn that dial
I will change the station to find something more enjoyable to listen to
Have another dream
I will dream about something more interesting to pass the time
Ain't it stupid how some people stare
It's ridiculous how some people stare at others
Not even how do you do
No one even acknowledges each other anymore
What's that mister - na na na
I don't understand what that man is trying to say
I'm just the same as you
I am just like you, trying to pass the time while we wait for our train
Running down the main line
I am sprinting down the main railway line
Shaking off the pain
I am trying to ignore the pain in my body caused by the sprinting
Heading for a bright time
I am hoping for better times in the future
Waiting for a train
Waiting for the train to arrive to take me to a better place
Who's that guy, I've seen his face before
I recognize that man, I have seen him before
Where or when
I can't recall where or when I saw that man before
Must be another face from Suzie's bar
Perhaps it is someone I met at Suzie's bar
It was different then
Things were different when I first met that person
Ain't no way that I can fix this up
There is no solution for the problem we are facing
I've really lost the place
I am completely lost and uncertain about where I am
What's that mister, yeah yeah
I am asking the man if he has any idea what is going on
I hope they fix you face
I hope you get the help you need to deal with any issues
She says you don't make it
She claims you are unsuccessful
She said you don't care
She believes you don't care enough about the situation
She said she's unhappy
She expressed her unhappiness
That you're never there
She feels like you are never present
She give you the option
She gave you a choice
You sink or you drown
You either make it or fail completely
Well what's it to be Jo
What will you decide to do, Jo?
Contributed by Jake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.