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.”
We The People
Kristina Train Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has it gone insane
It's not like when I was a kid
That's what the old folks say
It's a different generation
With a different set of rules
Who are the heroes
What's the price of an education
Who signed your degree
Better pin your hopes to it, golly-gee
Get your registration
A box of ammo too
Is the Second Amendment
Making excuses for you
But what will you believe in
When the shit goes down
Who's gonna save you
When they put you in the ground
What's the price of your agenda
You've got blood on your hands
No forgiveness-
You too are a murderer, man
Ask the Mighty Mississippi
Go ask your mom
What was it like in her day
What was it like on the farm
She said, do unto others
As they'd do unto you
Tuck your kids in at night
And pray they make it back home from school
What's the price of our freedom
It's the light we posses
What's the price of our freedom
Suffer and success
What's the price of our freedom
Independence and liberty
What's the price of our freedom
In the Land Of The Free
What's the price of our freedom
What's the price of our freedom
What's the price of our freedom
What's the price of our freedom
I know, I know, I know, I know
What's the price of our freedom
In the song "We The People" by Kristina Train, the lyrics delve into a critical reflection of contemporary society through the lens of nostalgia and generational change. The opening lines depict a sense of disillusionment and confusion about the current state of the world, contrasting it with the simpler, ostensibly more innocent days of childhood as recalled by the older generation. The lines, "What's the world come to / Has it gone insane," express a sentiment of bewilderment about societal changes, suggesting that the stability and security once enjoyed have been replaced by chaos and uncertainty. The reference to different rules in a "different generation" captures the tensions that arise as cultural norms evolve, prompting questions about authority and accountability; the lyrics inquire about the nature of heroes and fools in a society undergoing transformation.
The next set of lines grapples with the concept of education, an institution traditionally viewed as a means to empowerment and opportunity. Queries about the value ("What's the price of an education") imply a critique of the education system and its perceived failure to provide genuine outcomes for the youth, particularly in a world where qualifications seem to require hefty price tags without guaranteeing success or relevance. The mention of the Second Amendment introduces the idea of personal protection and the societal obsession with firearms, questioning whether this right is being used responsibly or as a pretext for other misguided behavior. Here, the song juxtaposes the promise of liberties with the potential for misuse, indicating a broader tension between a society’s freedoms and the societal responsibility that accompanies them.
Within the narrative's progression, the lyrics implore listeners to reflect on their beliefs, especially during moments of crisis, hinting at the fragility of self-reliance and the reliability of those around us. The evocative question, "Who’s gonna save you / When they put you in the ground," underscores deep existential fears and the search for wisdom and accountability within a framework of fading morals. It speaks to a growing skepticism about leaders and systems that are supposed to protect individuals and communities, suggesting that reliance on outward authorities may not be as sound as once thought. This sentiment of disillusionment is further emphasized through the metaphor of a burdened conscience, marked by moral culpability ("You've got blood on your hands") when tackling issues of violence, governance, and societal complicity.
Lastly, the chorus brings forth a contemplation of the value of freedom and what it costs. The repetitive refrain, "What's the price of our freedom," serves as a solemn reminder to not only evaluate the price in monetary terms but also in terms of sacrifices made throughout history. It recalls the inherent struggle for independence and liberty, highlighting the balance between suffering and success that has been the hallmark of the human condition. The lyrics call for a mixture of individual introspection and collective remembrance, prompting listeners to recognize the complexities surrounding liberty in "The Land Of The Free." Overall, the song weaves a narrative filled with nostalgia, critique, and a yearning for clarity in an increasingly convoluted world, ultimately encouraging a deeper understanding of social responsibilities and the cost associated with our freedoms.
Line by Line Meaning
What's the world come to
What has become of our society and its current state of affairs?
Has it gone insane
Has our world lost its rationality and sense of direction?
It's not like when I was a kid
Things have significantly changed compared to the simpler times of my childhood.
That's what the old folks say
This sentiment is echoed by the older generation, emphasizing a sense of nostalgia.
It's a different generation
The current youth and their experiences are distinctly separate from those before them.
With a different set of rules
The standards and expectations that guide today's society are no longer the same.
Who are the heroes
In this changing landscape, what defines true courage and who embodies it?
Who plays the fool
Who is deemed foolish in this evolving narrative, and why?
What's the price of an education
What sacrifices must one make to attain knowledge and learning in today's world?
Who signed your degree
Who endorses your qualifications, and what does that mean for your credibility?
Better pin your hopes to it, golly-gee
You should rely on your education as a primary means of achieving your dreams.
Get your registration
Make sure you are prepared and compliant with the necessary requirements.
A box of ammo too
Be armed and ready for potential conflicts or challenges that may arise.
Is the Second Amendment
How does the right to bear arms relate to contemporary issues of personal safety and freedom?
Making excuses for you
Does this right serve to justify irresponsible actions or choices?
But what will you believe in
When faced with crises, what core beliefs will guide your actions?
When the shit goes down
When serious problems arise, how will you react and what will matter most?
Who's gonna save you
In difficult times, who will come to your aid and support you?
When they put you in the ground
When faced with mortality, who will ultimately care for or remember you?
What's the price of your agenda
What are the costs associated with pursuing your personal goals or ambitions?
You've got blood on your hands
Your actions have consequences, and they may come with guilt or culpability.
No forgiveness-
There may be a lack of understanding or compassion for your actions.
You too are a murderer, man
This intense statement highlights the seriousness of one's responsibility in causing harm.
Ask the Mighty Mississippi
Seek wisdom from historical events and powerful symbols of the past.
Go ask your mom
Turn to family for insights on how things used to be.
What was it like in her day
Consider the comparative experiences of previous generations.
What was it like on the farm
Reflect on the simplicity and hardships of agrarian lifestyles.
She said, do unto others
She shared the golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated.
As they'd do unto you
Emphasize reciprocity in human interactions and moral behavior.
Tuck your kids in at night
Instill safety and love within your home environment.
And pray they make it back home from school
Worry about the well-being of children in an unpredictable world.
What's the price of our freedom
What is the cost associated with the liberties we cherish?
It's the light we possess
Our freedom is illuminated by the knowledge and values we hold.
What's the price of our freedom
Reiterating the need to assess the sacrifices made for our liberties.
Suffer and success
The path to freedom is often fraught with struggles and triumphs.
What's the price of our freedom
Continuing to question the true cost of our independence.
Independence and liberty
Our freedom is characterized by self-governance and personal rights.
What's the price of our freedom
Repeated inquiry into the value of our cherished liberties.
In the Land Of The Free
In a nation that champions freedom, what do we sacrifice for it?
What's the price of our freedom
Pondering once more the essential cost of maintaining our freedoms.
What's the price of our freedom
A call to continuously reflect on the value of civil liberties.
What's the price of our freedom
Reaffirming the necessity to evaluate the stakes involved in freedom.
What's the price of our freedom
Questioning the ongoing cost of freedom in a changing society.
I know, I know, I know, I know
Sensing a realization or deep understanding of the complexities of freedom.
What's the price of our freedom
Concluding with an introspective call to consider the layers of meaning behind our liberties.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kristina Train, Paul Olsen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nathalie-abc
Exquisitely Stunning.. I Love Kristina's Beautiful vocals. 'Dark Black' is still Forever a Very favourite song for me. 🌻🌷
@Andrewskji
Beautiful song with strong lyrics.
@laurieann6947
Beautiful , touching and makes you feel something… everything a great song is and does
@terriroberts4535
Just a beautiful voice 💜💜
@annlewis622
What a beautiful, beautiful song oh my God all of my favorite songs. Thank you so much for putting it on. I surely appreciate it. It was a small my face thank you. I just want to say thank you. You’re a very beautiful person and your music is just beautiful.
@klausm4086
Important Lyrics👏
@Che_Guevara13
Beautiful 👍
@Hyshler
Love this
@tatjanabalja9725
Awesome song ❤ Fantastic voice
@anteskarica9810
This is music