Westbound Train
Robert Ellis and The Boys Lyrics
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And you heard a hopeful song
Playing louder than any one you'd heard before
Oh, I know that song
She used to sing to me all night long
And when the music stopped, by morning I was gone
But to you they're ringing clear
Oh, that westbound train already passed me by
And I know just why you'd want to hitch a ride, oh
Other trains'll be coming through
And I'm gonna catch one too
Yeah, we do what we have to do
And who'm I to say
what you do along your way?
You said yourself this is a game you know how to play
It ain't right, it ain't wrong
But there's no sorrow in this song
I knew it wouldn't be too long 'fore she moved on
And I've moved on too
I ain't got nothing but love for you
Oh, that westbound train already passed me by
And I know just why you'd want to hitch a ride, oh
Other trains'll be coming through
And I'm-a gonna catch one too
Yeah, we do what we have to do
The Great Rearranger's changing everything again
Thought you stranger when I knew you way back when
We are older now, and there's no need to pretend
That anything we have in life means more than friends
Oh, that westbound train already passed me by
And I know just why you'd want to hitch a ride, oh
Other trains'll be coming through
And I'm-a gonna catch one too
Yeah we do what we have to do
The song Westbound Train by Robert Ellis is a poignant commentary on the impermanence of relationships and the inevitability of change. The singer, whose relationship has ended, watches as his former partner chases after a westbound train that has already passed him by. He acknowledges that he too has moved on, but he can’t help but feel a sense of wistfulness and sadness for what could have been. He understands that everyone must do what they need to do in order to keep moving forward in life, but in doing so they must also let go of what they once had.
The lyrics are filled with melancholy and regret, but they are also imbued with a sense of acceptance and understanding. The singer seems to be at peace with the fact that the relationship has ended and that both he and his former partner must continue on their separate paths. It’s a bittersweet song that captures the emotional complexity of letting go of someone you once loved.
Line by Line Meaning
The road was dark and long
The journey ahead seemed daunting and full of uncertainties
And you heard a hopeful song
You found hope during your journey
Playing louder than any one you'd heard before
The hope you found was stronger and more intense than any you had experienced before
Oh, I know that song
I am familiar with that feeling of hopefulness
She used to sing to me all night long
I used to feel that same hopefulness from someone special who is now gone
And when the music stopped, by morning I was gone
When the feeling of hopefulness faded, I moved on from that place
Now those songs escape my ear
I no longer feel that same sense of hopefulness
But to you they're ringing clear
However, you still feel that hope and it's clear to you
Oh, that westbound train already passed me by
I missed my chance to pursue that hope
And I know just why you'd want to hitch a ride, oh
I understand why you would want to chase after that hope
Other trains'll be coming through
Other opportunities will arise
And I'm gonna catch one too
I will also seize my next opportunity
Yeah, we do what we have to do
We must do what is necessary to move on and move forward
And who'm I to say
I don't have the right to tell you what to do
what you do along your way?
You know what is best for yourself
You said yourself this is a game you know how to play
You have confidence in your ability to navigate through life
It ain't right, it ain't wrong
There is no right or wrong way to handle a situation like this
But there's no sorrow in this song
Despite the missed opportunity, there is no need to feel sad
I knew it wouldn't be too long 'fore she moved on
I knew that hope could not last forever and would eventually fade away
And I've moved on too
I have also let go of that hope and moved forward
I ain't got nothing but love for you
I still care for you deeply
The Great Rearranger's changing everything again
Life is unpredictable and constantly changing
Thought you stranger when I knew you way back when
Despite our past closeness, time has changed us and made us feel like strangers
We are older now, and there's no need to pretend
We have both matured and no longer need to pretend to be something we're not
That anything we have in life means more than friends
Our friendship is the most important thing we have in life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROBERT ELLIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind