Unfair… Read Full Bio ↴The Auteurs was a British alternative rock band of the 1990s.
Unfairly dismissed as the egotrip of acclaimed songwriter Luke Haines, The Auteurs were one of the unsung bands of the mid-nineties Britpop movement. Releasing their first record, New Wave, in 1993, the Auteurs were compared to Suede, and the resurgent glam-rock movement, and began to amass a reasonable cult following. 1994's second album, and commercial highlight, Now I'm A Cowboy, saw the band embracing at times a more contemporary sound, notably on the single Lenny Valentino, which probably remains Haines' best-known song. Now I'm A Cowboy was marked out by sprawling guitar lines as much as by Haines' inimitable lyrics, a kind of visceral social commentary. While touring this album in 1995, Haines jumped off a fifteen-foot wall, breaking both ankles, resulting in his being in a wheelchair for the rest of that year, recording the starker, angrier third album After Murder Park, most notable for the ballad-like lead single Unsolved Child Murder, released for Christmas at Haines own bidding. Following this, Haines took time out to work on other projects such as Black Box Recorder and Baader Meinhof, reforming the Auteurs in 1999 for the release of the mostly overlooked final album, How I Learned To Love The Bootboys.
While Haines remains widely respected for his lyrical eloquence and eye for the minutae of life, his eccentric, confrontational personality, and habit of styling himself as a louche ne'er-do-well, perhaps impeded the formation of a more affectionate bond with his fans. The Auteurs, similarly, tended to be respected rather more than they were loved.
She Might Take a Train
The Auteurs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Need to get some advice
Whoa, oh
Column inches are brief
Need to find some relief
Then we must talk
She might take a train anyway
She might take a, she might take a
Possessions bar none, mean nothing at all
You can have them all
If I try to explain like a suicide
They miss their aim
She might take a train
She might take a train anyway
She might take a, she might take a
She might take a train
She might take a train anyway
She might take a, she might take a
The Auteurs' song "She Might Take a Train" is a melancholic yet captivating piece that touches on different themes such as seeking advice, finding relief, and possessions that have no meaning. The opening lines, "Need a line for a life / Need to get some advice," express the desire for guidance and wisdom in life. The next lines, "Column inches are brief / Need to find some relief / Then we must talk," suggest the fleeting nature of media and the importance of communication in finding release from whatever is burdening the individual.
The chorus, "She might take a train / She might take a train anyway / She might take a, she might take a," repeats itself throughout the song, hinting at the possibility of the main character leaving their current situation behind. The verse "Possessions bar none, mean nothing at all / You can have them all / If I try to explain like a suicide / They miss their aim" implies that material possessions do not bring happiness or fulfillment and that communicating one's thoughts and feelings can be difficult and ineffective.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of longing for clarity, release, and a fresh start. It is open to interpretation and draws the listener in with its poignant lyrics and emotive melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Need a line for a life
I need guidance to find purpose in my life
Need to get some advice
I need someone to give me helpful suggestions
Column inches are brief
Headlines in the media are fleeting and superficial
Need to find some relief
I need to discover a way to ease my troubles
Then we must talk
We need to have a conversation about these issues
She might take a train
She may choose to leave and start anew
She might take a train anyway
She could take a train without hesitation
Possessions bar none, mean nothing at all
Material possessions have no true value or significance
You can have them all
I would gladly give away all my possessions
If I try to explain like a suicide
If I try to express myself, it may not be fully understood
They miss their aim
My message may not come across as intended
She might take a train
She may choose to depart and start fresh
She might take a train anyway
She could easily decide to leave by train
She might take a, she might take a
She has the freedom to depart as she desires
Writer(s): Luke Michael Haines
Contributed by Addison H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@christophermonahan8571
Great tune, rattles around your head for ages after a listen, thanks for posting 😊