He continues to write and record new material and performs live frequently throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia.
Thompson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to music. On 5 July 2011, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa was conferred on Thompson by the University of Aberdeen, in a ceremony at the University's Elphinstone Hall.
Train Don't Leave
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bags in her hand, tears on her sleeve
Banging on the window with all of my might
But she won't look to the left or the right
We had a fight and it wasn't pretty
Now she's leaving, ain't it a pity
Going to wait tables, down in the city
Hold that red light one more minute
Train don't leave, heart don't break
Train don't leave, heart don't break
Mister guard, get out of that van
Wave that flag, I'm a lonely man
Mister driver, hand off the throttle
Or I'll shoot my luck, lose my bottle
One more minute, I can talk her right 'round
Get her size sixes back on the ground
Train whistle is a lonely sound
I didn't mean the things I told you
Empty arms waiting to hold you
Train don't leave, heart don't break
Train don't leave, heart don't break
She's getting off the train, she'd mad and sore
She pokes at my nose with the old southpaw
Swings and misses, turns right 'round
I catch her in time and we fall to the ground
She's got tears but she's laughing as well
We kiss like fools, you never can tell
How a little minute can cast its spell
We never want to see this station again
It's a sad old place for lonely men
Train, train, get down the track
Hell, you can leave and never come back
The song "Train Don't Leave" by Richard Thompson is a story about a man desperately trying to stop his lover from leaving him. She is sitting on the train with her bags, tears on her sleeve, while he is banging on the window with all his might, but she won't look to the left or right. They had a fight that wasn't pretty, and she's leaving to go wait tables in the city. The man begs the train to hold on one more minute, as the 6:18 train carries his baby. He asks the guard to wave his flag and the driver to slow down, threatening to shoot his luck and lose his bottle, but none of his methods work. He regrets the things he said to her and wants to hold her in his empty arms.
Finally, the train arrives, and she gets off, mad and sore. She pokes at his nose with her southpaw but misses and turns around. The man catches her just in time, and they fall to the ground. She is crying, but they kiss like fools, and she laughs as well. They never want to see that station again, and the man is pleading the train to leave and never come back because it is a sad place for lonely men.
The song is a masterpiece of storytelling, and Thompson's guitar playing adds an emotional depth to the lyrics. The song shows how love is worth fighting for and how a little minute can change someone's mind. It also depicts the desperation of a man who doesn't want to lose his lover and is willing to do anything to prevent her from leaving.
Line by Line Meaning
She's sitting on the train, the train's gonna to leave
The woman is currently on a train that is about to depart.
Bags in her hand, tears on her sleeve
She is holding onto her bags and crying.
Banging on the window with all of my might
The singer is hitting the window as hard as he can in an attempt to get her attention.
But she won't look to the left or the right
The woman is not acknowledging the artist's efforts to get her attention.
We had a fight and it wasn't pretty
The two have recently argued and it was not a pleasant experience.
Now she's leaving, ain't it a pity
The singer feels regretful that she is departing.
Going to wait tables, down in the city
The woman seems to be going to work as a server in the city.
Hold that red light one more minute
The artist is asking someone to delay the train's departure for one more minute.
6:18's got my baby in it
The train that is about to leave has the woman on it.
Train don't leave, heart don't break
The artist is pleading for the train not depart and for his heart not to be broken by the separation.
Mister guard, get out of that van
The singer is addressing the guard and instructing him to leave his post.
Wave that flag, I'm a lonely man
The artist feels alone and is asking for the guard's assistance.
Mister driver, hand off the throttle
The singer is asking the driver to slow down the train or stop it altogether.
Or I'll shoot my luck, lose my bottle
The singer is expressing desperation to keep her from leaving and will resort to extreme measures if necessary.
One more minute, I can talk her right 'round
The singer believes he can convince her to stay if given just one more minute.
Get her size sixes back on the ground
The artist is literally and figuratively asking her to come back down to the ground and stay with him.
Train whistle is a lonely sound
The sound of the train whistle is adding to the artist's feelings of loneliness.
I didn't mean the things I told you
The singer is admitting to being hurtful towards her during their fight.
Empty arms waiting to hold you
He is expressing a desire to hold her again.
Train don't leave, heart don't break
Once again, the artist is imploring the train not to leave and for his heart not to be broken.
She's getting off the train, she'd mad and sore
The woman has decided to get off the train and is angry and upset.
She pokes at my nose with the old southpaw
The woman is poking the artist's nose with her left hand, showing aggression towards him.
Swings and misses, turns right 'round
She attempts to hit him, but misses and turns around.
I catch her in time and we fall to the ground
The artist catches her before she falls and they both fall to the ground together.
She's got tears but she's laughing as well
Despite her tears, she is also laughing, possibly out of relief or joy at seeing the singer again.
We kiss like fools, you never can tell
The two are passionately kissing, despite the uncertainty of their future together.
How a little minute can cast its spell
The singer is reflecting on how one little minute can change everything and bring them back together.
We never want to see this station again
The station holds bad memories for the two and they do not want to return.
It's a sad old place for lonely men
The artist is painting the station as a sad and lonely place for men like himself.
Train, train, get down the track
The singer is telling the train to continue on its journey and go down the track.
Hell, you can leave and never come back
The singer is expressing an ambivalent feeling towards the train leaving, as he is relieved to have his love back but also knows that their relationship may continue to be difficult.
Contributed by Lucy V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ken Soehn
on Love in a Faithless Country
At a show at the Culch (The Vancouver East Cultural Centre) decades ago, Thompson said the song was inspired by two British serial killers, who seemed to be inspiring each other through the newspapers. Now you know why it sounds so spooky.
Mark Apelman
on Devonside
Not sure what this song means, but I love the feeling of it.