The first incarnation of what would later become the Nields came together in 1987 in McLean, Virginia, when Nerissa Nields met David Jones, a theater student, and the two of them started a band with Nerissa's sister Katryna. David changed his last name to Nields after marrying Nerissa.
1994 proved to be a watershed year for the Nields, with the band changing from a three-piece folk group to a five-piece rock band. The new members of the band were Dave Chalfant (bass), who Katryna had met in college, and Dave Hower (drums), a friend of Dave Chalfant's. Dave Chalfant also produced the band's album released that year, Bob on the Ceiling, which was named for a friend of Katryna's. This album featured a mix of the acoustic material that the Nields had previously specialized in and a more rock-oriented sound that would become their trademark. With their new sound, the Nields received critical acclaim, and quit their day jobs to become full-time musicians.
Their 1995 EP Abigail, named for Katryna and Nerissa's sister, would be the last self-released Nields album. In 1996, they released Gotta Get Over Greta on the independent Razor & Tie record label. The album was re-released in 1997 with three bonus tracks on Guardian, a division of Elektra Records. The group felt that with a major-label deal, they were on the brink of superstardom: they had a considerable grassroots following, and a mailing list that had tens of thousands of names and was growing continuously.
Unfortunately, the group suffered a number of setbacks the next year. Guardian folded, leaving them without a record label, and their tour van (nicknamed Moby) was growing increasingly unreliable. While they needed a new van urgently, their financial situation made it impossible for them to afford one. To raise money for the van, they self-released an album called Mousse (the nickname for Dave Chalfant's sister Andromache) and held a special 'Jam for the Van' concert where they debuted that album. As a result of that concert, the Nields were able to purchase a new van, which they nicknamed Nessie. They were also able to secure a new label, Zoë, a division of Rounder Records. All Nields records released since, except one, have been released on that label. Over the next three years, the Nields released two more records (Play and If You Lived Here You'd Be Home Now), and in 1999 Katryna Nields and Dave Chalfant got married, becoming the second married couple in the band after Nerissa and David Nields.
Although the band enjoyed a moderate degree of success, they remained in the red fiscally due to the high expenses they incurred (salaries for the band members, salaries for their manager, maintaining their van, lodging, etc.). Furthermore, the group was getting older, and people wanted to settle down and start families. The limits of what could been done in a 3-minute pop song also rankled some, who wanted to explore deeper themes. The combination of these factors led to the band's breakup in 2001. Their 2001 album, released that same year, was a two-disc album titled Live From Northampton. Like their 1993 album, it was recorded at the Iron Horse Music Hall, and was self-released by the band. The band ceased in 2001.
During the mid-2000s, the band occasionally performed shows, and, from 2006, went on the release a series of albums.
The Train
The Nields Lyrics
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Maybe there never was one but the tracks are everywhere
And my pale imagination makes me think there'll be one soon
Maybe it's desperation or the shadows on the moon
Chorus
No no, I will still believe
It's hard when we have been deceived
But if that train ever does come back, then I will be on board
And when I go to sleep at night I hear someone else's song
Sung by some Canadian and thousands sing along
And everyone is dancing but I don't know the words
Mystery and chimera and a million flying birds
Chorus
And everything gets quiet and the sea has a frozen tide
And night has started to descend but my eyes are open wide
And far off in the distance the sun looks like a train
Maybe my imagination is fooling me again
Chorus
The Nields's song "The Train" is a contemplative piece about faith, skepticism, perception, and hope. The lyrics revolve around the idea of a train that may or may not exist, but which people believe in anyway. The singer acknowledges that there hasn't been a train in the area for thousands of years, and that it is possible there never was, but the tracks are still there, and the singer's imagination makes them feel as though a train will soon appear. It's not clear whether this belief comes from desperation or delusion, but the singer asserts that they will still believe in the train's existence, even if it seems unlikely. The chorus reinforces this sentiment by saying, "No no, I will still believe. It's hard when we have been deceived. And maybe I'm mistaken and maybe I'm not sure. But if that train ever does come back, then I will be on board."
The second verse describes the singer going to sleep at night and hearing someone else's song, sung by a Canadian, that thousands of people seem to know the words to. The singer, however, does not, and finds the whole situation mysterious. The use of the words "mystery" and "chimera" further emphasizes the idea of things that may or may not exist, but that people believe in anyway. The verse ends with the image of a million flying birds, which may represent a hope for something greater than oneself.
The final verse paints a vivid picture of a frozen tide and a descending night, with the sun looking like a train in the distance. This may be a metaphor for the end of something, or the beginning of something new. The singer once again acknowledges that their imagination may be fooling them, but holds onto the belief that the train will come if it's meant to be. The song ends with the chorus, emphasizing the message that even if the train doesn't come, the belief in it is enough to sustain hope and faith.
Line by Line Meaning
There hasn't been a train here for about two thousand years
It's been a long time since a train passed through this place, maybe never, but there are tracks here that suggest it.
Maybe there never was one but the tracks are everywhere
Despite the possibility that there was no train that passed through, the tracks all over the place make it seem real.
And my pale imagination makes me think there'll be one soon
The author's vivid imagination keeps the hope that the train would soon return alive, even though it has been a long time.
Maybe it's desperation or the shadows on the moon
The possibility of the return of the train could be attributed to the author's desperation or maybe deemed impossible.
No no, I will still believe
Despite the odds, the author chooses to believe in the return of the train.
It's hard when we have been deceived
It's difficult to believe something that doesn't seem true after being let down multiple times.
And maybe I'm mistaken and maybe I'm not sure
Although the author isn't sure of the return of the train, the option to believe it could bring comfort.
But if that train ever does come back, then I will be on board
If the train miraculously returns, the author would be more than willing to ride it.
And when I go to sleep at night I hear someone else's song
Before drifting off, the author listens to another person's music.
Sung by some Canadian and thousands sing along
The song played has attracted a massive audience, with people all over singing along.
And everyone is dancing but I don't know the words
Everyone is vibing to the song, but the author doesn't know the lyrics.
Mystery and chimera and a million flying birds
The author is caught up in a web of wonder and fascination, even though they don't understand the song they hear.
And everything gets quiet and the sea has a frozen tide
The author's surroundings feel calm, and the author feels a sense of stillness that they can't explain.
And night has started to descend but my eyes are open wide
Despite the onset of night, the author is alert and awake.
And far off in the distance the sun looks like a train
The sun seems to mimic a train from the author's perspective, but it might as well be their imagination.
Maybe my imagination is fooling me again
The author is unsure if what they're seeing is real or just their imagination.
No no, I will still believe
Regardless of whether reality or their imagination is at play, the author will continue to believe in the possibility of the train's return.
It's hard when we have been deceived
Depending on the experience we've had, it can be hard to hold on to hope.
And maybe I'm mistaken and maybe I'm not sure
The possibility of the train's return is still uncertain to the author.
But if that train ever does come back, then I will be on board
If the train ever returns, the author will definitely be on board and ready to ride.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NIELDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind