Biography
A former football player, Nicolai was signed by the Telegram label of Warner records, releasing two albums that did not sell enough copies to enable him to give up his part-time job as a gardener.
A meeting with Ebbot Lundberg of the Swedish band Soundtrack of our Lives led to two further albums, a tour with Emiliana Torrini and the use of one of his songs in an advertisement for an oil company. This small influx of cash enabled the production of a trio of vinyl albums with the Esbjörn Svensson jazz trio.
This steady production of somewhat experimental acoustic music attracted the attention of Americana luminaries Will Oldham and Jonathan Donahue, and a contract with the Dolores Recordings branch of Virgin Records followed. The first album on this label, Soul Rush with backing from the Esbjörn Svensson trio attracted some limited attention in 2001, but the next album, 2003's Tranquil Isolation, achieved widespread, especially thanks to its input from Will Oldham.
A third album, Here's My Song, You Can Have It followed in 2004.
He is currently touring the USA with Mercury Rev.
Dr Zhivago's Train
Nicolai Dunger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
through the sound of change
And tell those boys back in town
that there will be a call
Oooo train is comin' on
Oooo train is comin' on
A train is comin' your way
and it sounds like,
or why not through your heart
It makes us see the strengh that surrounds us in all
our failures
Just like the train in the film Doctor Zhivago
Oooo train is comin' on
Oooo train is comin' on
A train is comin' your way
and it sounds like,
just like a chade straight through the season
And without a reason, it just blows away
'cause you like the sound of it
It sounds like this....
In Nicolai Dunger's song "Dr Zhivago's Train," the lyrics capture the sense of anticipation and movement that comes with the arrival of a train. The singer urges the listener to hold on as the train moves through the sound of change, invoking the sense of journey and transformation that comes with this mode of transport. The lyrics also speak of calling back the boys in town to witness the train's arrival, further emphasizing the communal nature of this experience.
The train is likened to a chase straight through the season, or why not straight through one's heart. This idea of movement and pursuit continues to be the central theme in the song, with the train coming across as a symbol of strength and perseverance in the face of failure. The inspiration for the song title comes from the 1965 film "Dr. Zhivago," which features scenes of the eponymous character traveling by train through the Russian countryside. By referencing this iconic film, Dunger adds a layer of cultural complexity to his lyrics that speaks to the broader themes of love and revolution embedded in the movie.
Overall, "Dr. Zhivago's Train" is a poetic meditation on the power of movement and the ways in which trains can come to embody both the excitement and the fear that come with journeys into the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold on, when the train is moving through the sound of change
Brace yourself and keep steady when embarking on a journey towards something new and transformative.
And tell those boys back in town that there will be a call
Inform the people left behind that change is coming and they will be beckoned to join.
Oooo train is comin' on
The sound of the train approaching is a harbinger for the impending change.
A train is comin' your way and it sounds like, just like a chase straight through the season or why not through your heart
Change is coming and it will be intense and relentless, affecting everything including matters of the heart.
It makes us see the strengh that surrounds us in all our failures
Challenges and failures can reveal the strength and resilience within us.
Just like the train in the film Doctor Zhivago
The power and impact of the approaching change is comparable to the train in the movie Doctor Zhivago.
And without a reason, it just blows away 'cause you like the sound of it
The change may seem pointless, but its allure and appeal cannot be denied.
It sounds like this....
The change is embodied by the sound of the train, and it echoes through the song as a constant reminder of its inevitability.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NICOLAI DUNGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SetlistMedia
Both this and the RP version have a sense of randomness and constant motion. Effectively emulates a train like so many songs but picks up the random passing scenery like no other.
@plongo
mad time signature, love it
@ternitamas
did you figure it out? I hear some 5/4 and 6/8 at the beginning then I'm lost haha
@colinwright4139
I prefer this to RP, and RP is my all time favourite, probably the only person who could cover this ridiculous time signature.
@andrewtaylor7484
Giants walk among us people. Give your head a shake and listen up.
@Crisis.Knight
The Robert Palmer's version has something in his voice that I like it more than this, I'm not quite sure if this is better .
@jillsmcfarland2001
No train or harmonica.
@arrowfinley
Like this original version better than Robert Palmer's. Gets real jazzy toward the end.
@katharinecarreaux9990
What inspired you to write about Dr Zhivago. ( from a long time fan of the Pasternaks and Palmer)
@ternitamas
what meter is this in? driving me crazy!