The Blue Train
Maura O Lyrics
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Riding this run down track
And the lost places
From a dream that never brings them back
And the sad truth is nothing but a cold hard fact
I'm riding the blue train
Over the miles yet to cover
I'm taking it one way to nowhere
Afraid you might be there
To find me inside this blue train
Counting the burned bridges
Trailing this rusted wreck
As our back pages
Scatter in the dust we left
Like a pearl necklace
Fallen from around your neck
I'm riding the blue train
Over the miles yet to cover
A ghost in a hurry to fade
I'm taking it one way to nowhere
Afraid you might be there
To find me inside this blue train
Away down the low road
A ticket to an empty room
A rendezvous unknown
I'm riding the blue train
Over the miles yet to cover
A ghost in a hurry to fade
I'm taking it one way to nowhere
Afraid you might be there
To find me inside this blue train
Maura O'Connell's song The Blue Train is a melancholic and haunting portrayal of a journey taken by the singer over unknown miles with no destination in mind, except to escape from some unknown fear. The singer sets the tone of the song by describing the faces of people who appear lost and forlorn as she watches them from the train that chugs along a broken and rusted track. She also mentions the sad truth which is a "cold hard fact" that eludes us but looms large in our lives. The word "truth" could signify the inevitability of life and death, our mistakes and regrets, and the choices we make that lead to consequences we cannot escape.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is fleeing some past event or relationship that caused heartbreak and loss. She counts the burned bridges of her past and mentions scattered pages that signify something precious and lost forever. The pearl necklace falling from the neck is an emotional image of beauty and pain, as the necklace could signify a relationship that once existed, but now it is gone forever. The singer comments that she is a ghost in a hurry to fade, which could mean that she feels the pain of loss and trauma too intense to bear and wants to escape. As she travels further, she is afraid of finding the person who haunts her inside the blue train. It could be someone who reminds her of the past, or a memory that she wants to discard but cannot seem to.
The song's lyrics are a metaphor for the journey of life, as we struggle to understand our purpose and search for meaning in the face of loss, heartbreak, and tragedy. The blue train could represent our journey through life, where we are sometimes lost and afraid, but we must keep moving forward, knowing that we cannot escape our past. The song's mournful melody and Maura O'Connell's soulful voice add to the sense of melancholy and longing that permeates the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching the long faces
Observing the faces of the people on this train who appear sad and defeated.
Riding this run down track
Traveling on a train that seems old and neglected, as if it is coming to the end of its life.
And the lost places
Thinking about the places in the past where people once felt loved and secure, but have since become unreachable and distant.
From a dream that never brings them back
Remembering a time when things were better, but realizing that these memories can't change the present reality or bring back what has been lost.
And the sad truth is nothing but a cold hard fact
Acknowledging that the situation is truly unfortunate and there is no easy way to fix it.
I'm riding the blue train
The singer is on the train being described and is feeling detached and alone.
Over the miles yet to cover
Knowing there is still a long journey ahead.
A ghost in a hurry to fade
Feeling like a specter that is quickly disappearing on this metaphorical journey.
I'm taking it one way to nowhere
Having no specific destination or plan for the future.
Afraid you might be there
Worried about encountering the person who caused the pain being felt.
To find me inside this blue train
As if the train itself is a representation of the singer's sorrow, and they are becoming more and more lost within it.
Counting the burned bridges
Thinking about all of the relationships that have been destroyed or abandoned.
Trailing this rusted wreck
Being dragged along by an old, worn-out train that seems like it is falling apart.
As our back pages
Reflecting on past moments or memories.
Scatter in the dust we left
Thinking about how these memories have been abandoned, left behind like dust.
Like a pearl necklace
Comparing these memories to valuable pearls that were once treasured and loved.
Fallen from around your neck
Lost or cast aside and no longer appreciated or held closely.
Away down the low road
Heading down a path with no clear direction, and a sense that things might not end well.
A ticket to an empty room
Purchasing something (in this instance, a train ticket) that is ultimately pointless or fruitless.
A rendezvous unknown
A meeting or gathering where the outcome can't be predicted or controlled.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JENNIFER K KIMBALL, TOM KIMMEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind