Train Train
The Bishops Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The ripples crawl into the past as easily as they travel forward
Across the mast to seduce the sails which sway above an anchor
Into the ocean of your yearning blue and vast and unrestrained
It's here not there that they reside unsettling what's remained unsettling what's remained

I will not speak of love with words that sting or fertilize flowers
I do not wish to flatter or to sling uneasy arrows at flesh harbors
Where swims the ache of eternity bedridden but never sleeping
'Cause it's here where all the hope hides out to listen to the ancient beating
To listen to the ancient beating

I watch a bottle tangle with a girl made out of paper
It all happened so fast I and in the pitch black I didn't see him rape her
But I found her ripped and soaking the bottle staggered off confused
The shattered himself against a post
After whistling John Trains Blues
After whistling John Trains Blues

I changed when you died and I never returned. It rained around my eyes
We painted and paraded our memories and planted yew in the hillsides
From the cracks in your bone grew a grey stone and now I visit you instead
Your cowboy dreams are gold dust gathering in the fountains of my head in the fountains of my head

When the firing squad of loneliness discharges in the darkness
A child will rip at the grass to teach his new found tongue a question




Between my head and my boots I take and blend all these colors of the rainbow
And the ladders in my eyes extend into what I do not know into what I do not know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Bishops' song "Train Train" are filled with imagery and metaphors that create vivid pictures and emotional depth. The first verse describes an ocean and its waves, which represent the past and the future, and how they unsettle what has remained. The second verse talks about the singer's reluctance to speak of love with words that can hurt or flatter, but instead turns to the hope that is found in the beating of an ancient heart. The third verse delves into a darker subject matter, with a bottle tangled with a girl made of paper, and a rape that happens in the pitch black. The final verse touches on loneliness and the desire to learn and grow despite not knowing what lies ahead.


The use of metaphors and imagery throughout the song creates a sense of complexity and depth. The waves and ocean represent time itself, with the past and future being interconnected and constantly shifting. The heart beating represents hope and the possibility of finding something worth holding onto, even when everything else feels uncertain. The final verse touches on the idea of learning and growing, even in times of darkness and uncertainty.


Line by Line Meaning

The ripples crawl into the past as easily as they travel forward
The effects of the past can be just as influential as those in the present and future


Across the mast to seduce the sails which sway above an anchor
The seductive nature of the ocean can sway even the most secure of ships


Into the ocean of your yearning blue and vast and unrestrained
The vast and unrestrained ocean represents one's yearning desire


It's here not there that they reside unsettling what's remained unsettling what's remained
The past and future both reside in the present, unsettling what remains of our lives


I will not speak of love with words that sting or fertilize flowers
Love shouldn't be expressed in ways that are hurtful or insincere


I do not wish to flatter or to sling uneasy arrows at flesh harbors
One shouldn't use flattery or hurtful comments to attract another's affections


Where swims the ache of eternity bedridden but never sleeping
The ache of eternity and longing is always present, though we try to ignore it


'Cause it's here where all the hope hides out to listen to the ancient beating
Hope is found in the present, where we take the time to listen to our hearts


I watch a bottle tangle with a girl made out of paper
An inanimate object disrupts the fantasy world of imagination


It all happened so fast I and in the pitch black I didn't see him rape her
The reality of a situation can be obscured, leading to unexpected and tragic consequences


But I found her ripped and soaking the bottle staggered off confused
The aftermath of a tragic event can leave one feeling confused and helpless


The shattered himself against a post After whistling John Trains Blues
An inanimate object, the bottle, meets its own tragic end after contributing to a terrible reality


I changed when you died and I never returned. It rained around my eyes
The death of a loved one can change a person in profound ways, and cause a constant inner struggle


We painted and paraded our memories and planted yew in the hillsides
In times of grief, we celebrate the memories we had with loved ones and pay tribute to them in our own way


From the cracks in your bone grew a grey stone and now I visit you instead
A loved one's memory can live on even after death, and visiting their resting place can be a way of finding comfort


Your cowboy dreams are gold dust gathering in the fountains of my head in the fountains of my head
Memories of loved ones can bring joy and comfort, and even inspire our own dreams and aspirations


When the firing squad of loneliness discharges in the darkness
The feeling of loneliness can be overwhelming and painful


A child will rip at the grass to teach his new found tongue a question
In times of loneliness, even small acts can feel like they have meaning and purpose


Between my head and my boots I take and blend all these colors of the rainbow
Life is full of different experiences and emotions that shape our perspective


And the ladders in my eyes extend into what I do not know into what I do not know
Our perspective can be limited by what we know, and leaving room to explore the unknown can be a source of growth




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@nicholaskelly1958

I had the great pleasure of knowing Dave Rotchelle. A Really Excellent Person.
Who Is Greatly Missed.
God Bless You Dave.

@paulmetcalfe8565

First live band I ever saw, when I was 16, which was at the Electric Ballroom in Camden. Set the course for my whole musical tastes!!

@johnmitchelljr

A great simple song that has everything. Loved it for many years. Thanks for sharing.

@busterabcat

Billy Bragg brought me here all of 35 years ago! :)

@mc2mc277

Bought this single when it came out to play on FM radio!

@joshthorne

I roadied and sound engineered for The Bishops when Dave joined the band. I was renting a flat in Zen and his family's house in Olympia, London and Zen asked me if I wanted to work for the band...so I did! I was with them for about a year, touring around the UK and Ireland with Chiswick Records and their management, ending up helping them out on their recording. My last gig with them was at the Roundhouse in Camden, London where Motorhead headlined. This was all a while ago now....but I've been keeping up the memory by playing some of the Bishops' songs in my band here in Spain...I was there when Zen passed away, he was lovely and so kind to me...in fact, all the Bishops were fine people...I still have the occasional electronic contact with Dave.

@susanhooper6431

thank you for keeping their music alive.

@christopherdavis7373

Hello I a Zens niece would you be willing to chat about Zen and those days. Would mean a lot to me thank you

@joshthorne

@@christopherdavis7373 you mean nephew? Sure, I can chat if this is genuine?

@slideharp1

Johnny had arrived in London two days before I joined up with him, Zen and Michael. He's from Bethesda, Md..... Michael was (is) from Brooklyn, NY. We found Paul pretty quickly - he's Aussie. This is the four-piece after Michael was fired.............. Steve Lewins - The Fly Jugband

More Comments

More Versions