Mystery Train
The Rainbirds Lyrics
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Then I found I'd lost my feet
Once I thought I lost my sight
Then I found I lost my vision
Once I felt I lost my soul
There I wished I'd loose my mind
I threw a coin for St. Antoine
He said: put your money in the bank
Taking a ride on this mystery train
Taking a trip to my heart is all in vain.
Don't throw a coin
Throw a stone
St. Antoine left all alone on this foolish parade
Once I dreamed I was a star
Then I found I was the whole universe
Once I thought I'd lost my pride
Then I found I'd lost the reason why
So I sang to loose my fears
When they were gone
I felt so lonely
I threw a coin for St. Antoine
He said: put your money in the bank
It never helped anyone
Taking a ride on this mystery train
Taking a trip to my heart is all in vain
Don't throw a coin
Throw a stone
St. Antoine left all alone on this foolish parade
(Instrumental)
Taking a ride on this mystery train...
Taking a trip...
The Rainbirds’ song “Mystery Train” is a journey through self-discovery and the search for meaning in life. The lyrics are rich with powerful metaphors that express the confusion and disillusionment that comes with the realization that life is, in fact, a mystery. The singer explores the depths of their being and finds both the beauty of the universe and the darkness of their own soul in equal measure. At times it seems that they have lost everything, their shoes, their feet, their sight, and even their soul. And yet, in the same breath, they recognize that they are, in fact, the whole universe. It is a powerful exploration of the human condition and the search for meaning in life.
The song is a journey of self-discovery layered with metaphors and allegories, which reflect the complexity of life. The singer throws a coin to St. Antoine, a patron saint who is believed to have healing powers, and receives the advice to put his money in the bank as it never helped anyone. This could be interpreted as a warning against relying solely on material possessions for a meaningful life. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase “Taking a ride on this mystery train, taking a trip to my heart is all in vain” which could signify the inevitability of life being a mystery, and the futility in trying to fully understand the depths of our being. The refrain of “Don't throw a coin, throw a stone, St. Antoine left all alone on this foolish parade” could symbolize the need to be self-reliant, and not to rely on external help or answers, as we all ultimately navigate life’s mysteries alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I dreamed I lost my shoes
I had a dream where I felt unprepared and out of place
Then I found I'd lost my feet
But in reality, I realized that I had lost my sense of direction and purpose
Once I thought I lost my sight
At another point in my life, I was struggling to see the bigger picture or understand what was going on around me
Then I found I lost my vision
But later on, I realized that I had actually lost my ability to imagine and dream
Once I felt I lost my soul
There was a time when I felt disconnected from my sense of self or my spirituality
There I wished I'd loose my mind
And in that moment, I wished that I could forget everything and start anew
I threw a coin for St. Antoine
When I was feeling lost and uncertain, I turned to religion or superstition for guidance
He said: put your money in the bank, it never helped anyone
But I soon realized that my faith in these external sources was misguided and ultimately unhelpful
Taking a ride on this mystery train
So now I'm on a journey through life, trying to figure out its unknown and inexplicable twists and turns
Taking a trip to my heart is all in vain
And trying to understand my own feelings and desires is often a fruitless and frustrating endeavor
Don't throw a coin, throw a stone
Instead of relying on empty gestures or delusions, I need to face reality and take action
St. Antoine left all alone on this foolish parade
Because in the end, I am the only one who can navigate my own path forward
Once I dreamed I was a star
There were times when I felt like I was destined for greatness or meant to stand out from the crowd
Then I found I was the whole universe
But as I matured, I came to see that I am just one small part of a greater whole
Once I thought I'd lost my pride
At another point in my life, I struggled with feelings of shame or embarrassment
Then I found I'd lost the reason why
But eventually I realized that these emotions were just distractions from deeper issues
So I sang to loose my fears
To cope with my anxieties, I turned to music or creativity
When they were gone, I felt so lonely
But sometimes these methods only provided temporary relief, leaving me feeling even more isolated and lost
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.