Sonya has appeared on numerous late night TV shows including Late Night with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CNN, CBS and garnered rave reviews from the LA Times, Boston Globe, NY Times & NPR; gracing venues such as Carnegie Hall & The Hollywood Bowl amongst numerous notable stages around the world. In 2007 she joined forces with Herbie Hancock singing on his Grammy winning Joni Mitchell record titled, “River: The Joni Letters”. Herbie Hancock invited Sonya to join him on tour to sing in his band, in support of the record for the following year. During this time she worked alongside such greats as Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell, Milton Nascimento, Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones, and many more.
Shortly after her year spent touring with Herbie Hancock, Sonya released her second album, "This Storm" on Decca Records produced by Malcolm Burn (Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, 2008) in collaboration with renowned rock band, The Slip, to much critical acclaim.
In 2009, Sonya joined forces with long-time friend and collaborator Garth Stevenson and together they created a collection of string-quartet based music, releasing “Convict of Conviction” in 2010 with producer Stewart Lerman (Antony and the Johnsons, David Byrne). Sonya Kitchell & The Brooklyn Strings were born and Sonya spent the next year performing with a string quartet ensemble exploring a more dramatic, cinematic side to her music.
Her songs have appeared on numerous TV shows and films including Perfect Stranger (Bruce Willis, Halle Berry), Private Practice and The Unit.
She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY and is working on her fourth album.
TRAIN
Sonya Kitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I walked through busy streets down a shadowy lane
I just bought my ticket for the ride
there's no turning back now
no matter what I decide
steel body moves fast, hinges pounding against the ground
I sink into my seat
I pray for it to speed up, but I wish it would slow down
wood is thrown onto the fire that cries out to be fed
mist shrouds the dawn, so ahead I cannot see
the train it moves ever forward into the misty sea
there's so many faces
most of the time I feel so alone
there's so many places
will I ever stop and know my own home?
I know I'm gonna get there, but I'm not sure when
nor do I know where I'm going, so I won't pretend
I cannot see beyond the horizon nor around the bend
the train it moves ever forward without a seeming end...
out of one window, I saw rain
I looked through the other, and I felt the warm sun's rays
the wind, it gently blew across my weary shoulder
and time whispered in my ear, Child, you're just gonna keep getting older
but I've done nothing more than take a seat on this here train
yet my life turned upside down and only
only the little things are right
Sonya Kitchell's "Train" is a thought-provoking song that speaks about the journey of life. The lyrics show the singer sitting on a train after moving through crowded streets and buying a ticket, highlighting the idea that the journey is irreversible. The train is described as thundering down the tracks with the seat rumbling beneath the individual. The singer is torn between wanting to speed up the journey and wanting it to slow down in anticipation of what lies ahead.
The chorus of the song describes the singer's feelings of isolation, highlighting the idea that there are so many faces and places in life, yet they still feel alone, unsure of where their home is. The singer admits to being uncertain about when they'll get to their destination, where they're headed, and what is around the bend, suggesting feelings of uncertainty that often come with life's journey.
As the train moves forward, the singer reflects on the duality of life - the rain on one window, and the warm sun's rays on the other, showcasing how life can be unpredictable at times. The singer hears the wind blowing across their weary shoulder, reminding them of the passage of time, and that they're getting older.
In the final lines of the song, the singer realizes that all they have done is take a seat on the train, yet their life has turned upside down. The little things are the only things right, suggesting the idea that it's the small moments in life that make it worthwhile.
Overall, the song speaks to the importance of embracing life's journey and all the uncertainties that come with it, while finding meaning in the little things along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
I've just taken a seat on the train
I am embarking on a journey with uncertain outcomes.
I walked through busy streets down a shadowy lane
I have ventured through darkness and uncertainty to arrive at this point.
I just bought my ticket for the ride
I have committed to this journey and cannot turn back.
there's no turning back now
I have left my past behind and must move forward.
steel body moves fast, hinges pounding against the ground
The train represents a powerful, unstoppable force guiding me toward the unknown.
I sink into my seat
I am trying to relax and make peace with the journey ahead.
I pray for it to speed up, but I wish it would slow down
I am both eager and apprehensive to reach my destination.
my body quivers with anticipation for what lies ahead
I am filled with excitement and anxiety about my future.
wood is thrown onto the fire that cries out to be fed
I am fueled by an inner passion and desire to keep moving forward.
mist shrouds the dawn, so ahead I cannot see
I am uncertain about what the future holds for me.
the train it moves ever forward into the misty sea
I am moving forward despite my uncertainty.
there's so many faces
I feel overwhelmed by the people around me.
most of the time I feel so alone
Despite my surroundings, I feel disconnected and isolated.
there's so many places
I am unsure where I fit in or belong.
will I ever stop and know my own home?
I question whether I will ever find a place where I truly belong.
I know I'm gonna get there, but I'm not sure when
I am confident that I will reach my destination, but I am uncertain when it will happen.
nor do I know where I'm going, so I won't pretend
I do not have a clear destination in mind, so I cannot pretend to have all the answers.
I cannot see beyond the horizon nor around the bend
My future is uncertain and unpredictable.
the train it moves ever forward without a seeming end...
The train symbolizes the ongoing journey of life, that never truly ends.
out of one window, I saw rain
I experience both the happy and sad parts of life.
I looked through the other, and I felt the warm sun's rays
I experience both the good and bad parts of life.
the wind, it gently blew across my weary shoulder
I experience the passing of time and the inevitability of aging.
and time whispered in my ear, Child, you're just gonna keep getting older
I am reminded that time passes quickly and that I must make the most of my journey.
but I've done nothing more than take a seat on this here train
I feel helpless and powerless in the face of my journey.
yet my life turned upside down and only only the little things are right
Despite the uncertainties of my journey, I am grateful for the small joys that make life worth living.
Contributed by James W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.