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.”
This Magic Moment
Kristina Train Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was like any other, until I kissed you
And then it happened, and it took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it too, by the look in your eyes
Sweeter than wine, softer than a summer night
Everything I want I have, whenever I hold you tight
This magic moment, while your lips are close to mine
Sweeter than wine, softer than a summer night
Everything I want I have, whenever I hold you tight
This magic moment, while your lips are close to mine
Will last forever, forever 'til the end of time
Magic
Magic
In "This Magic Moment," Kristina Train captures the essence of a transformative experience that accompanies falling in love. The opening lines introduce a moment that seems ordinary yet becomes extraordinary the instant a kiss is shared. This juxtaposition highlights the power of intimacy; while the moment may have appeared like any prior one, it was her kiss that changed everything. The lyrics suggest a shared recognition of this newfound connection, which is further expressed through the look in her partner's eyes. This nonverbal communication reinforces the idea that love is often felt more keenly than it is articulated, emphasizing the emotional depth and spontaneity of intimate encounters.
The lyrics draw lyrical parallels between love and sensory experiences, invoking the imagery of wine and summer nights. By describing love as "sweeter than wine," Train suggests that this emotional connection is rich, intoxicating, and pleasurable, reminiscent of the allure of a fine vintage. Similarly, the phrase "softer than a summer night" evokes feelings of warmth, serenity, and gentleness. The connection between the physical act of holding someone close and the feelings it elicits reinforces the idea that love is not merely an abstract concept, but a tangible experience that fulfills one's deepest desires. This blend of tactile and emotional imagery creates a vivid picture of romantic closeness that resonates with listeners.
The repeated refrain of "This magic moment" serves to anchor the song, underscoring the idea that love is anchored in specific encounters that can be both fleeting and eternal. In the second verse, the singer acknowledges the powerful impact of the kiss, suggesting that this moment solidifies the connection between the lovers and allows them to feel an exquisite sense of possession over their emotional bond. The phrase "Will last forever, forever 'til the end of time" conveys a promise and a hope that this connection will endure; it elevates the temporary experience of a kiss to something more profound, suggesting that these magic moments can transcend the ephemeral nature of life.
The concluding repetition of the word "Magic" reiterates the enchanting quality of love and the profound impact it can have on individuals. It emphasizes how moments of intimacy can create a sense of wonder and excitement, transforming mundane experiences into something profound. Through the lens of nostalgia and shared emotional intensity, Train’s lyrics remind her audience that love is filled with moments that possess a unique charm and power, encouraging listeners to treasure these fleeting yet essential experiences that shape our understanding of connection and longing. The overall message of the song encapsulates the exhilaration and depth of love, celebrating the magic that comes from those seemingly simple yet life-altering instances of human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
This magic moment, so different and so new
This extraordinary instance stands apart from all I've experienced before, filled with a freshness that invigorates my senses.
Was like any other, until I kissed you
It began like countless moments prior, commonplace and ordinary, until our lips met, transforming everything.
And then it happened, and it took me by surprise
Suddenly, something profound occurred, an unexpected revelation that jolted me from my previous state of mind.
I knew that you felt it too, by the look in your eyes
Your gaze mirrored my own feelings, signaling that you experienced the same depth of emotion and connection in that instant.
Sweeter than wine, softer than a summer night
The sensation is more delightful than the finest wine, and gentler than the embrace of a warm, tranquil summer evening.
Everything I want I have, whenever I hold you tight
In your embrace, I find a fulfillment of all my desires; that closeness brings everything I ever wished for.
This magic moment, while your lips are close to mine
In this miraculous instant, with our lips nearly touching, there is an undeniable energy that transcends ordinary time.
Will last forever, forever 'til the end of time
This experience feels eternal, a bond that will endure beyond the limits of time itself.
Sweeter than wine, softer than a summer night
The feeling is more exquisite than the richest wine, and more soothing than the calm of a sultry summer's eve.
Everything I want I have, whenever I hold you tight
In your warm embrace, I grasp all my yearnings; that closeness fulfills every longing I possess.
This magic moment, while your lips are close to mine
This enchanting instance, marked by our almost touching lips, captures an extraordinary union of hearts.
Will last forever, forever 'til the end of time
The essence of this moment promises permanence, an everlasting connection that will resonate throughout eternity.
Magic
This experience is imbued with an enchanting quality, something that transcends the ordinary and inspires wonder.
Magic
An affirmation that this moment is filled with an enchanting essence, evoking a deep sense of awe and fascination.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerome Pomus, Mortimer Shuman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind