Spilt Milk was recorded in London with Jimmy Hogarth, the sought-after British producer whose recent credits include Duffy, Corinne Bailey Rae and James Blunt. Powerhouse songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and arranger Eg White – Grammy Awards Record of the Year nominee for Adele’s “Chasing Pavements” – co-wrote most of this material. Singer and pianist Ed Harcourt also co-wrote two, including the climactic “Far From the Country,” an especially poignant and personal conclusion to the disc, about the physical and emotional distances one must bridge to keep love alive
For inspiration, Train turns to Aretha Franklin – “There is not a song that Aretha has sung or will ever sing that doesn’t just melt me” – along with blues/R&B cult figures like former Stax star/Raelette Mable John and Bob Dylan-favorite Karen Dalton. Says Train, “I wanted my album to offer glimpses of my influences, not sound like my influences. Jimmy, Eg and I are of similar backgrounds, we appreciate the same music; we have similar tastes. The arrangements are just what we felt the songs needed, they give the songs flavor but don’t try to steal anybody else’s style. I hope the album is a nod to the music I love, while still being modern.”
Music has been at the center of Train’s world since she was a toddler, when her mother encouraged her to play the violin. Train took to the instrument, but, more importantly, she also discovered an innate aptitude as a singer, with unerring pitch and a preternaturally mature delivery from a very young age. Says Train, “There’s depth to my voice and I think it comes from a lot of different places. But the way I sound today is the way I always sounded -- except in a tinier body.”
As an artist, Train could never simply be described as a product of her times and that has allowed her, on Spilt Milk, to create music that can arguably be called timeless. Her mom, who raised Train alone, fashioned what some might view as a sheltered existence for the young Train, keeping her away from television and pop radio. But what she really did was provide a fertile laboratory for Train to freely grow as a young woman and a singer, apart from the vagaries of trends. Train took music and ballet lessons and listened to classical music and opera, along with jazz and blues. Her violin training definitely came in handy: Train has arranging credits on three of her tracks and overdubbed strings on two of them.
Though born in New York City, Train was raised in Savannah, Georgia, and southern soul and gospel, which she sang in church and school choirs growing up, has had the most profound effect on her work. Almost as significant was the moment when, as a teenager, she unearthed her mom’s tucked-away stash of vinyl albums from the sixties and seventies: Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin. Say Train,” I remember hearing Janis Joplin’s records and thinking, what is that all about? We lived in downtown Savannah, in a house kind of like a New York City brownstone. When we had thunderstorms I would go up to the roof and scream at the top of my lungs because I wanted to make my voice raspier. God only knows what that’s done to me!”
By the time Train was 19, she was already singing professionally, albeit locally. A producer based in the south who’d spotted Train arranged to bring her up to New York City to showcase for Blue Note. The label chiefs offered Train a development deal – but her mom had other ideas. She insisted her daughter go to college first. Many a confident and headstrong young artist would rebel and go it alone, accept the deal and take their chances. But Train – reluctantly, she now admits – listened to her mom. She agreed to attend college in Athens, Ga., keeping her hand in music by joining a band and spending far more time rehearsing and gigging than hitting the books. And when she was ready to return to her career full-time, Blue Note was still waiting.
It was time well-spent, Train now realizes: “I know that at 19, I would not have made this record, which is the record I always wanted to make. This is the album that defines who I am. At 19, I don’t know what I would have put out. I believe everything happened for a reason. It took this amount of time for me to get here and to make this record. I always knew it would happen. “
Train made several trips to London over the course of two years, to write with Hogarth and White, but the actual recording moved quickly. In fact, Train was such a natural that some of the vocal performances they chose came straight from the song demos they’d originally done. Right before they were about to embark on their final sessions, though, a disastrous computer glitch during file back-up resulted in the loss of much of what they’d already completed. As Train recalls, “It was the perfect electronic storm.” Undaunted, she and her cohorts went back in and re-cut the vanished material with even more passion and determination, the setback turning out to be far more inspiration than challenge. Looking back, Train says, “I don’t think anything was lost. I don’t think there was this one magic moment that we could never recapture. I love what it is today.” And the experience provided her with an album title. “Don’t cry over spilt milk.”
Train’s confidence and faith in what she has created is part of what makes Spilt Milk so thrilling: “There’s just this magic thing that happens sometimes and you think, I want to sing this song for the rest of my life – I want to live in it, I want to bury myself in it, I want to wriggle around in it.. Every time I finished one, it was like, I can’t believe that, at this point in my life I finally have a song I would fight for, that I believe in 100% percent. And now I have all these songs together on an entire album that I feel this way about. For me, that’s my college degree.”
Lost In Love
Kristina Train Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love in a heavenly shape
Though the years may sway
In tender ways
Lost in love, we stay
When evening colors
Fade to day
Will our love remain?
where the heart lays
Do you remember the way?
We could romance a while, in a crowd of smiles
Say farewell to yesterday
Please turn to me, may we begin again
Lost in love, we will stay
For only you, a nightingale softly sings
For you may a broken bell ring
For only you, love lingers
Til the end of time
Do you remember the way?
When evening colors, fade to day
Will our love remain?
And will the gentle breeze lead me where they heart lays
Do you remeber the way?
Someday our romance may fly away, but our love will remain
Just hold me in that oh sweet way
Lost in love, we lay
The gentle breeze will lead me
Lost in love, we stay
In Kristina Train's "Lost In Love," the lyrics capture the tender essence of a romantic relationship, underscoring themes of nostalgia, longing, and the enduring nature of love. The song opens with a contemplative tone, as the singer reflects on the future of their romance, suggesting the uncertainty of whether their love will withstand the test of time. The idea that "someday, our romance may fly away" introduces a bittersweet element, hinting at the ephemeral nature of love while simultaneously asserting that a deeper connection, symbolized by "love in a heavenly shape," may endure despite the trials that time may impose. This duality creates a poignant tension between fleeting moments and lasting bonds, setting the stage for the emotional depth that follows.
As the narrative unfolds, Train paints vivid imagery of moments shared between lovers, marked by the transition of "evening colors" fading into day. This imagery evokes a sense of intimacy and ephemeral beauty, suggesting that even as days turn to nights, the essence of their love can remain intact. The gentle breeze becomes a metaphor for change and destiny, posing the question of whether it will guide the singer back to the heart of their beloved. There is an inherent yearning in the plea, "Do you remember the way?" signifying not only a longing for the past but also a hope for rekindling that connection. This line encapsulates the idea of revisiting cherished memories as a way to navigate uncertainties about the present and future.
Train's lyrics also delve into the importance of re-establishing and revitalizing their romance, as expressed through lines like "please turn to me, may we begin again." The urgency for reconnection and renewal serves as an affirmation of commitment, as if recognizing the inevitability of life's ebb and flow, the couple seeks to ground themselves in the shared experience of love. The metaphor of romance occurring "in a crowd of smiles" suggests that their bond is so profound that it still shines brightly even within the hustle and bustle of life. This unique juxtaposition enhances the theme of resilience, inviting the listener to engage in the beautiful complexities of love that thrives amidst external noise and distractions.
Ultimately, the song beautifully encapsulates the tension between the fear of loss and the joy of presence in love. The refrain, "lost in love, we stay," serves as both a comforting anchor and a reminder of possible uncertainty—yet it is underscored by a conviction that their love is distinct and transcendent. With lines depicting a "nightingale softly sings" and "broken bell ring," Train evokes a sense of timelessness and continuity in their affection, suggesting that even as moments may come and go, the essence of love is eternal. The conclusion, reiterating the desire to simply exist and find solace in each other's presence, offers a powerful resolution to the themes of longing and reassurance. This layered interplay unveils a profound journey of love that embraces both the beauty and fragility of human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday, our romance may fly away
There may come a time when our relationship fades or ends unexpectedly.
Love in a heavenly shape
Our love takes on a beautiful and elevated form, almost as if it is celestial in nature.
Though the years may sway
As time passes, our emotions and circumstances may shift and change.
In tender ways
We navigate these changes with sensitivity and affection for one another.
Lost in love, we stay
Despite the challenges, we remain deeply engrossed in our feelings for each other.
When evening colors
When the day transitions to night, symbolizing change or the end of a chapter.
Fade to day
The vibrant moments begin to dull as darkness approaches, mirroring life's ebb and flow.
Will our love remain?
The artist expresses uncertainty about the longevity of their love amidst these changes.
And will a gentle breeze lead me
Will a subtle and comforting force guide me through the uncertainties of love?
where the heart lays
To the place where true emotions and intimate connections reside.
Do you remember the way?
Do you recall the path we’ve taken in our relationship, filled with memorable moments?
We could romance a while, in a crowd of smiles
Even surrounded by others, we can still share intimate moments of affection and joy.
Say farewell to yesterday
Let’s leave behind the past, including its pains and regrets.
Please turn to me, may we begin again
I ask you to look towards me so that we can rekindle and refresh our love.
Lost in love, we will stay
We will continue to be deeply captivated and immersed in our love for one another.
For only you, a nightingale softly sings
In your presence, the beauty of love is reflected in sweet melodies, symbolizing how special you are.
For you may a broken bell ring
For you, even the imperfections and struggles of love create a hauntingly beautiful sound.
For only you, love lingers
For you, my feelings of love continue to persist and resonate timelessly.
Til the end of time
My love for you is everlasting and will endure through all challenges.
Do you remember the way?
Do you still think of the journey and experiences we’ve shared together in our relationship?
When evening colors, fade to day
As the vivid moments of our love transform into quieter times, will we still have our connection?
Will our love remain?
Is it possible that our love will last regardless of life's transformations?
And will the gentle breeze lead me where the heart lays
Will soft influences guide me back to the place where my true feelings reside?
Do you remember the way?
Do you still hold onto the memories of the path our love has taken?
Someday our romance may fly away, but our love will remain
Though our relationship might change or end someday, the essence of our love will endure.
Just hold me in that oh sweet way
Embrace me tenderly, as you once did, to rekindle the warmth between us.
Lost in love, we lay
In this moment, we are completely consumed by our love for one another.
The gentle breeze will lead me
A comforting presence will guide me towards the truth of my emotions.
Lost in love, we stay
Ultimately, we remain wrapped in our profound and enchanting love.
Writer(s): Brian Peter Byrne, Kasey Renee Jones
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.