Train Wreck
Glen Phillips Lyrics

She looked just like a train wreck
She appeared disheveled, troubled, and chaotic, like a disastrous train accident that could have been prevented.

That could've been avoided
Her state could have been improved or prevented, but she didn't get help or support at the right time.

In a third world country
The image evokes poverty, deprivation, and struggle, suggesting that she had similar challenges in her life.

By a long stretch of farmland
The location implies remoteness, isolation, and vulnerability, as if she lived in a place that was hard to reach or overlooked by others.

Where the waters had run high
The flood or disaster metaphor implies that she faced overwhelming difficulties that threatened her wellbeing or stability.

And washed the topsoil down the river
The image suggests erosion, loss, and barrenness, as if she experienced a breakdown or depletion of her resources, skills, or hopes.

So that next year there would be no crops...
The future tense and agricultural metaphor imply long-term consequences, downturns, or failures, suggesting that her situation might not improve or recover.

She was as desperate as a salesman
The comparison highlights her level of urgency, motivation, and pressure, as if she needed to make risky, expedient, or unethical decisions in order to survive or thrive.

At a company that's folding
The setting suggests an unstable, unsustainable, or failing enterprise, where employees face layoffs, cuts, or uncertainty.

But they haven't told the staff yet
The secrecy implies deception, dishonesty, or betrayal, as if the management or leadership is avoiding responsibility or avoiding the inevitable.

That they're bankrupt and backordered
The hint of bankruptcy and delay suggests financial or logistical problems that prevent the company from fulfilling its obligations or expectations.

And they're funneling the pensions
The verb suggests manipulation, exploitation, or corruption, as if the company is cheating or stealing from its own employees in order to enrich itself or its top executives.

To the CEO's back pocket
The implication is that the CEO or the leadership is benefiting personally from the company's misfortunes or misconduct.

So in one week they'll have nothing
The prediction suggests a sudden, drastic, or irreversible outcome, as if the employees will lose their income, their security, or their trust in the company.

I miss you girl, I hope you're fine
The singer expresses a nostalgic or caring sentiment towards the girl, implying that they used to have a connection or a relationship.

Good luck, love
The phrase conveys a mixture of positive wishes, encouragement, and affection, suggesting that the artist still cares about the girl's wellbeing, despite their distance or conflicts.

Or goodbye
The choice implies a sense of finality, uncertainty, or closure, as if the artist is not sure if they'll see the girl again or if they want to maintain the relationship.

She's the girl from central casting
The metaphor implies that the girl conforms to certain stereotypes or archetypes in the entertainment industry, as if she has a familiar or predictable personality or background.

Always played the sweet young orphan
The reference to a common character trait implies that the girl has a history of emotional or social deprivation, loneliness, or abandonment, making her vulnerable or sympathetic.

Or the hooker with the heart of gold
The alternative image suggests a contrast between the girl's profession or behavior and her inner values or virtues, as if she has redeeming qualities or aspirations despite her questionable choices or lifestyle.

But she got her SAG card pulled
The fact implies that the girl lost her status, recognition, or validation as an actor, as if she faced a setback or a rejection in her career or life.

And turns tricks now on Cahuenga
The slang phrase refers to prostitution or other illicit trade, implying that the girl has resorted to desperate, risky, or illegal means to make money or cope with her problems.

She tells herself it's research
The rationalization suggests that the girl tries to justify or rationalize her actions, as if she still dreams of a better career or future, or deludes herself with false hopes or beliefs.

For her next and greatest role
The ambition or aspiration implies that the girl still believes in her talent or potential, as if she wants to prove herself or achieve something meaningful before her career or life ends.

She'll call you up just to hear you say she's fine
The action implies a craving for attention, reassurance, or validation, as if the girl needs to hear someone else's voice to feel better or more stable.

Then she's gone away
The sudden disappearance suggests a pattern of emotional or physical detachment, as if the girl avoids intimacy, responsibility, or confrontation, or prefers to keep her distance.

And you know there's only one more time
The implication is that the girl's behavior or fate is predictable or inevitable, as if she's about to repeat a mistake or face a crisis.

You'll hear about her again
The statement implies that the girl's presence or impact is ephemeral, unpredictable, or unreliable, as if she's bound to come and go or change her life or personality depending on the circumstances.

Well, it's life informing art informing life again
The phrase suggests a meta-level feedback or reflection between reality and representation, as if the artist observes a recurring theme or pattern in human experience, feelings, or creativity.

Like every stupid kid
The self-deprecating or empathetic tone implies that the singer identifies with the girl or relates to her situation, as if they've made similar mistakes or misjudgments in their life.

That thinks that they're the first in pain
The criticism or irony implies that the singer recognizes the girl's naivete, arrogance, or ignorance, as if they've encountered many other people who have gone through similar struggles, but didn't learn from them.

The first to rip themselves apart
The hyperbole or metaphor suggests a self-destructive or self-sabotaging behavior, as if the girl's actions or choices lead to her own downfall or misery.

The first to try and live without a heart
The insinuation is that the girl lacks empathy, compassion, or love, as if she's become jaded, cynical, or numb to her own feelings or those of others, making her unable to connect or relate to them.

I want to see your face, even hear your lies
The paradoxical statement implies that the artist values the girl's presence or communication, even if they're not truthful, as if they miss her and want to reconnect or reconcile.

Good luck, girl
The phrase repeats the earlier expression of hope, encouragement, and affection, but with a slight change, as if the singer acknowledges the girl's agency or independence, and wishes her good fortune or success in her own terms or goals.

Or goodbye
The repetition of the earlier phrase implies a repetition of the same choice or dilemma, as if the artist is torn between two conflicting or uncertain options, whether to hold on or let go of the relationship or the girl.

Goodbye
The final word conveys a sense of closure, separation, or resignation, as if the singer has made a choice or accepted a situation, and is ready to move on, whether happily or sadly.