Train In Vain
Manic Street Preachers Lyrics


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You say you stand by your man
Tell me something I don't understand
You said you love me and that's a fact
And then you left me, said you felt trapped

Well some things you can explain away
But the heartache's in me 'til this day
You didn't stand by me
No, not at all
You didn't stand by me
No way

All the times
When we were close
I'll remember these things the most
I see all my dreams come tumbling down
I can't be happy without you around

So alone I keep the wolves at bay
And there's only one thing I can say

You didn't stand by me
No, not at all
You didn't stand by me
No way

You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me?

Did you stand by me?
No, not at all

Now I got a job
But it don't pay
I need new clothes
I need somewhere to stay
But without all of these things I can do
But without your love I won't make it through

But you don't understand my point of view
I suppose there's nothing I can do

You didn't stand by me
No, not at all
You didn't stand by me
No way

You didn't stand by me
No, not at all
You didn't stand by me
No way

You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me?

Did you stand by me

Did you stand by me?
No, not at all
Did you stand by me?
No way
Did you stand by me?
No, not at all




Did you stand by me?
No way

Overall Meaning

"Train in Vain" by Manic Street Preachers is a song about heartbreak, betrayal, and the pain of being left behind by someone you love. The lyrics reflect a sense of confusion and disbelief as the singer tries to understand why the person who promised to stand by them ended up leaving instead. The song delves into the emotional turmoil of a failed relationship, and the lingering heartache that can remain long after it's over.


The opening lyrics reflect the singer's frustration and confusion, as they confront their former partner's lack of support and loyalty. The lines "You say you stand by your man, tell me something I don't understand" suggest that the singer is struggling to make sense of their partner's conflicting words and actions, and is seeking answers. The next lines "You said you love me and that's a fact, and then you left me, said you felt trapped" further underscore the singer's confusion, as they struggle to reconcile their partner's professed love with their sudden abandonment.


As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the moments they shared with their former partner, and mourns the loss of what they once had. The lines "All the times when we were close, I'll remember these things the most" suggest that the singer is holding onto memories of happier times, even as they struggle to move on. However, the heart of the song lies in the chorus, where the singer repeatedly laments "You didn't stand by me, no way," emphasizing their sense of betrayal and abandonment. Overall, "Train in Vain" is a raw and emotional reflection on the pain of lost love.


Line by Line Meaning

You say you stand by your man
You claim to be loyal to your partner


Tell me something I don't understand
Please explain your actions that contradicts your claim of loyalty


You said you love me and that's a fact
You professed your love for me and it seemed genuine


And then you left me, said you felt trapped
However, you left me because you claimed to feel trapped


Well some things you can explain away
There might be reasons for some actions that can be justified


But the heartache's in me 'til this day
But your betrayal has deeply hurt me and I still feel the pain


You didn't stand by me
You didn't support me or stay with me


No, not at all
Definitely not


All the times
Every moment we spent together


When we were close
When we were emotionally attached to each other


I'll remember these things the most
These moments will be the most memorable


I see all my dreams come tumbling down
I feel like all my hopes and aspirations have collapsed


I can't be happy without you around
I feel incomplete and unhappy without your presence


So alone I keep the wolves at bay
I am fighting my battles alone and trying to stay strong


And there's only one thing I can say
I can only say one thing for sure


You must explain why this must be
You must give me a valid reason for your actions


Did you lie when you spoke to me?
Did you deceive me when you said you love me?


Now I got a job
I have found employment


But it don't pay
But it doesn't pay enough to support my needs


I need new clothes
I need new clothing


I need somewhere to stay
I need a place to live


But without all of these things I can do
Even if I manage to acquire all these things


But without your love I won't make it through
I won't be able to cope without your love and support


But you don't understand my point of view
You don't seem to empathize with how I feel


I suppose there's nothing I can do
I guess there's no remedy for this situation




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Michael Burke

Imagine James and Mick doing this together. Would be an absolutely amazing experience.

ian welsh

love this cover,they always cover songs well tho.

liamjwolves

i prefer mick's vocals just by a bit, but this is a brilliant cover.

Dinlo 1966

Love it!

Paul Johnson

James vocal is better than the original, before anyone says anything - i love the clash, just think this is really good.

The Talented Mr Fitz

Brilliant. Still got the lyrics wrong though lol

notdrivingaminimetro

Mick & Joe never got their lyrics right either 😂😂

ian welsh

Far better vocal & guitar playing than the original!

Vadim T

HAHAHAHA fooooooooooool

billsmuztube

@Partoftheratpack not a bad cover but sorry you are wrong never heard better than strummer singing this

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