According to the Walking In Memphis Songfacts, Cohn was discovered by Carly Simon in the mid-'80s when he was with a 14-piece band called The Supreme Court. Atlantic Records signed him in 1989, but the first attempts to record his debut album with Tracy Chapman 's producer David Kerschenbaum failed. Ten months later, he tried again, producing the set himself with help from the little-known Ben Wisch, who had helped him with his demos. Finally released in 1991 when Cohn was 31 years old, his self-titled debut album was a huge hit, thanks to the massive success of "Walking In Memphis." Cohn won the 1991 Grammy for Best New Artist award, beating out both Boyz II Men and Seal. Cohn never matched the chart success of this song, but like his musical heroes Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne , he remained a critical and artistic success as a songwriter and performer.
He has issued two other studio albums to date, The Rainy Season (1993) and Burning the Daze (1998), both on Atlantic Records. A self-released live compilation, Live 04-05 (2005), is being sold at concerts on his current tour.
He is the most famous graduate of Beachwood High School in Beachwood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. He attended Oberlin College as well. In addition, Cohn is notably married to ABC News journalist Elizabeth Vargas whom he met at the 1999 US Open after being introduced by Andre Agassi. Cohn and Vargas have two sons: Zachary Raphael (born on January 31, 2003) and Samuel Wyatt (born on August 16, 2006). Cohn has two other children— Max and Emily—from a previous marriage.
On August 7, 2005, Cohn was shot in the head during an attempted carjacking, following a concert with Suzanne Vega in Denver, Colorado. He was hospitalized and released the next day. The remaining concerts on the tour were cancelled.
Cohn released The Very Best Of Marc Cohn in June 2006, and his 4th studio album, Join The Parade, was released on October 9, 2007. He continues to tour to this day. For photographs and additional information visit Marc's official website, www.MarcCohn.net.
Ghost Train
Marc Cohn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I guess that this was mine
I may be here to tell some kind of story
But I think it's gonna take a little time
(That's all right)
See I'm rockin' in a cradle
Down the hall somewhere and I am
Maybe I am falling
Maybe I am flying
But I know if I am crying she is
Holding me
And then the sky broke up
And then the rain came down
And it washed away everything on the ground
Wash it away
Wash it away
Wash it away
Now baby's got that bottle
Filled up with lightning and rain
He keeps calling out for someone
But she's riding on a train
Riding on the ghost train
And she keeps on riding
She's gonna keep on riding
Mama keep on riding
Keep on riding
Some trains they leave in the morning
Some leave in the afternoon
Some trains they leave here
Right on time
And some they just leave too soon
Way too soon
But I'm gonna keep on
trying
The lyrics of Marc Cohn's Ghost Train are poetic and thought-provoking. The song's theme revolves around the idea that life is fleeting and transitory, and that we are all just travelers on a journey towards some unknown destination. The song opens with the singer reflecting on his "fateful day," hinting at some kind of epiphany or turning point in his life. He acknowledges that the story he has to tell will take some time, but he's willing to wait it out.
The next few lines are rich with metaphorical imagery. The singer is "rockin' in a cradle" and seems to be lost in a dream state. He's unsure if he's falling or flying and is comforted by an unnamed woman who's holding him as he cries. The sudden rainstorm and the way it washes everything away serves as a metaphor for the transformative power of nature, and how it can change our lives in an instant.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody talks about some fateful day
People often speak of the day that changed their lives and I think this might be mine
And I guess that this was mine
I believe that the day I'm living now is the one that was written in my destiny
I may be here to tell some kind of story
Perhaps the reason for my existence is so that I can narrate a story to others
But I think it's gonna take a little time (That's all right)
That story might require a significant amount of time to tell and that's perfectly fine
See I'm rockin' in a cradle
In a way, I feel like I am a baby being rocked to sleep in a crib
Down the hall somewhere and I am
That cradle is located down the hallway from where I am currently situated
Lost inside a dream
I am currently experiencing an episode of dreaming that has me feeling completely disoriented and detached from reality
Maybe I am falling
Perhaps my dream has me feeling like I am free-falling and unable to control my movements
Maybe I am flying
Alternatively, it is possible that my dream has me soaring through the sky
But I know if I am crying she is
Either way, if I am upset, I feel comforted by the idea that someone (perhaps a woman) is there to console me
Holding me
This person is figuratively embracing me in my time of need
And then the sky broke up
Suddenly, the sky became divided in some way
And then the rain came down
Following this event, a heavy rainfall commenced
And it washed away everything on the ground
The rain was so intense that it cleared all debris and matter from the earth
Wash it away
This may be an instructional plea for the rain to cleanse or rinse something specific
Wash it away
Again, this repetitive line may be emphasizing the importance of clearing away whatever needs to be cleaned
Wash it away
Once more, this may be a request or a demand for the rain to wash something away
Now baby's got that bottle
Here, 'baby' is being used as a nickname for a person, perhaps a friend or a lover
Filled up with lightning and rain
This person is holding a bottle that is filled with a combination of lightning and rain (which could be interpreted as a metaphor)
He keeps calling out for someone
The person with the bottle is repeatedly shouting out for someone
But she's riding on a train
Despite his calls, the woman he is seeking is already riding a train
Riding on the ghost train
The train she is riding is not a traditional, corporeal train but rather a 'ghost train', which can be interpreted in various ways
And she keeps on riding
The woman is continuing to ride the train without faltering or stopping
She's gonna keep on riding
The woman is resolute in her decision to stay on the train and not get off
Mama keep on riding
Perhaps 'Mama' is another nickname for the woman or the person speaking directly to her
Keep on riding
As with the previous lines, this repetition emphasizes the woman's determination to keep going
Some trains they leave in the morning
Not all trains leave at the same time of day; some depart in the morning
Some leave in the afternoon
Alternative, some trains depart in the afternoon hours
Some trains they leave here
There are specific trains that leave from this location/situation
Right on time
These trains depart exactly when they are scheduled to do so
And some they just leave too soon
However, there are other trains that seem to leave prematurely or before one is ready for them to go
Way too soon
These trains leave so early that it is almost unfair or unjust
But I'm gonna keep on waiting for my ride
Despite the disappointment or frustration that comes with trains leaving too soon, this person is committed to waiting for their own ride to arrive
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARC COHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind