On "Compass & Companion", Mark partnered with Kelly Willis for the title song.
He regularly tours in support of Kris Delmhorst, Lori McKenna and Catie Curtis, playing acoustic and electric guitar.
Mark has worked with producer Lorne Entress exclusively and co-produced "Hillbilly Pilgrim" and "Hope & Other Casualties'.
Midnight Train
Mark Erelli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I climbed out my bedroom window
Shimmied down the tree
Under cover of the darkness
I crept on down the street
She is waiting for my signal
Hope her daddy doesn't hear
And we just up and disappear
I'll be waiting 'neath a streetlight all alone
Like a dog waits for a bone
Baby please don't let me down
I'm only trying to make you understand
Come on, baby take my hand
Only love and love alone can save us now
CHORUS
Oh Angie, can't you hear that whistle blow
Pack your bags it's time to go
Don't you think it's time we made our getaway
We'll ride the rails 'till morning comes around
Wake up in some other town
Where nobody knows our names
Run away with me and ride the midnight train
We discovered long ago
This town ain't big enough for two
Who refuse to dream in black and white
Like all the others do
I want to see them colors shine
Just like the stories I've been told
I want to follow that old rainbow
'Till we find that pot of gold
Oh Angie, don't you listen
When they tell you I'm insane
They're only trying to keep your heart up on the fence
'Cause the truth is it's the other way around
That's the problem with this town
I'm the only one who's talking any sense
Oh Angie, can't you hear the engine whine
As it rumbles down the line
(CHORUS)
Oh Angie, can't you hear that lonesome sound
Nothing else can stop us now
The lyrics of Mark Erelli's "Midnight Train" tell the story of two young lovers who are desperate to get out of their small town and start a new life together. The singer starts the song by describing how he climbed out of his window and made his way to his lover's house, hoping to avoid detection by her father. Once they meet up, they plan to run away together on the midnight train and start a new life in a new town where no one knows their names. The chorus emphasizes the urgency of their desire to leave and their hope that love can sustain them on their journey.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses a deep sense of alienation from the people around him. He sees his town as a place where people dream in "black and white," with no willingness or ability to take risks or embrace change. He is aware of how others see him as "insane" or unstable, but he sees his desire to leave as the only sensible option for him and his lover. For him, the midnight train is symbolic of the possibility of escape and the hope that things will be different in a new place.
The song takes on a bittersweet tone, as the singers' desperation to leave is tempered by a sense of loss and uncertainty about what the future holds. They have each other and their hope for a better life, but they must leave behind everything they've ever known. Ultimately, the song is an ode to the power of love to inspire people to take bold actions and to the allure of the unknown, even in the face of fear and doubt.
Line by Line Meaning
I climbed out my bedroom window
I sneaked out of my bedroom window
Shimmied down the tree
I safely got down the tree
Under cover of the darkness
I moved in secret during night time
I crept on down the street
I moved slowly and carefully forward on the street
She is waiting for my signal
My lover is waiting for me to give her a sign
Hope her daddy doesn't hear
I hope her father won't hear us
When she scrambles down the trellis
When she gets down the garden frame structure
And we just up and disappear
We quietly vanish without anyone noticing
I'll be waiting 'neath a streetlight all alone
I will wait alone under a streetlight
Like a dog waits for a bone
As eagerly as a dog waits for a treat
Baby please don't let me down
Please don't disappoint me, darling
I'm only trying to make you understand
I just want you to see my point of view
Come on, baby take my hand
Please take my hand, sweetheart
Only love and love alone can save us now
Our passion for each other is our only hope of salvation
Oh Angie, can't you hear that whistle blow
My dear Angie, don't you hear the train whistle?
Pack your bags it's time to go
Let's pack our bags, it's time to leave
Don't you think it's time we made our getaway
Aren't you convinced it's time to escape together?
We'll ride the rails 'till morning comes around
We'll take the train all night long
Wake up in some other town
We'll wake up in a different place
Where nobody knows our names
Where nobody recognizes us
Run away with me and ride the midnight train
Escape with me by taking the midnight train
We discovered long ago
We realized some time ago
This town ain't big enough for two
This town can't accommodate both of us
Who refuse to dream in black and white
Who have a colorful and imaginative way of thinking
Like all the others do
Unlike the conformists
I want to see them colors shine
I want to see the colors of the world come alive
Just like the stories I've been told
Just like the tales I have heard
I want to follow that old rainbow
I want to chase that rainbow
'Till we find that pot of gold
Until we find our treasure
Oh Angie, don't you listen
Angie, don't believe them
When they tell you I'm insane
When they call me crazy
They're only trying to keep your heart up on the fence
They only want to confuse you
'Cause the truth is it's the other way around
The fact is the opposite
That's the problem with this town
That's the issue with this place
I'm the only one who's talking any sense
I am the only one being rational
Oh Angie, can't you hear the engine whine
My dearest Angie, listen to the sound of the train engine
As it rumbles down the line
As it travels farther away
Oh Angie, can't you hear that lonesome sound
Angie, don't you hear that melancholic noise?
Nothing else can stop us now
We can't be stopped now
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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