What started as two guys with strong voices and one guitar became San Francisco's Train by 1994. It was in late 1993 that Patrick Monahan left Erie, PA, and met up with the Los Angeles band, The Apostles. Lead singer/guitarist Rob Hotchkiss and fellow guitarist Jim Stafford had basically disbanded by this time, but the chance meeting with Patrick Monahan proved fortuitous, as Hotchkiss extended an invitation to the crooning Monahan to become a two-man band. After making exhaustive appearances in low-key coffeehouses, they decided to form a full band and enlisted former Apostles members Stafford and bassist Charlie Colin. Colin brought along his good friend, drummer Scott Underwood, and Train were on their way.
Train settled in San Francisco to develop their sound in a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. In an unlikely scenario, executives from Columbia Records expressed an interest and, in a somewhat cooperative strategy, farmed the fledgling band out to the minors -- in this instance, Aware Records -- where they could grow naturally and unhurriedly. In 1997, they went on tour, opening for the likes of Blues Traveler, Barenaked Ladies, and Counting Crows. Train knew they had arrived when they sold out a performance at San Francisco's prestigious Fillmore venue. Their completed debut album was released the following year. Drops of Jupiter followed three years later, becoming a 2x Platinum hit on the back of its single of the same name. My Private Nation followed in 2003. Though the response was initially weak, the single "Get to Me" eventually caught fire, and Train had their latest Billboard chart hit. A holdover live album appeared in 2004 while the band returned to the studio to record My Private Nation's follow-up. The single "Cab" announced the band's return in late 2005, with the full-length For Me It's You following early the next year.
From November 2006, the band took a break from recording and touring to be with friends and family. Lead singer Pat Monahan released a solo album, Last of Seven, on September 18, 2007. The first single, "Her Eyes," was released in July.
On October 27, 2009, Train not only released proof that they were once again a band but also put their fifth studio album on the market, Save Me San Francisco. Dedicated to getting back to where they came from, the album revisited the roots rock sound that has made the band such a tour de force. The album is a tribute to the city that made them who they are today and pays homage to the city by the bay whom they owe so much.
The first single from Train's sixth studio album, "Drive By," was made available on iTunes on January 10, 2012, a week after Train played the halftime show at the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl in Miami. This upbeat pop/rock tune was the first song to be released from Train's sixth studio album. It was already familiar to some of their fans as the band had been performing the tune during their 2011 Summer Tour. Train's singles tend to gradually build momentum, but this song debuted at #60 on the Hot 100 in its first week as Triple A, hot AC, and pop radio all embraced the song with enthusiasm.
This album was followed by Bulletproof Picasso, Christmas in Tahoe, Train Does Led Zeppelin II, and A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat. Their album AM Gold was released on May 20, 2022.
http://savemesanfrancisco.com/
Rat
Train Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A teachers pet and modern fool
Talked about being a freelance broker
But the police caught him tryin' to choke her
Can't describe him in his corner
Like a rat out of the water
Out of work and outta grass
Mother Mary, never seems to stop to talk, she just walk on past
But why why, can't I see you
One day always away
Why why can't I be you
One day always away
He's outta school now, just another taken bar stool
And this neighborhood ain't what he had in mind
Wants to be your girlfriend, love to be your boyfriend
Wants to be your telephone, wants to wants to be your man
But why why, can't I see you
One day always away
Why why can't I be you
One day always away
Down Down, no information
The lyrics to Train's song Rat follow the story of a man who seems to have had a promising future but has ended up living in a bleak and unsatisfying reality. The opening lines describe the man as "not too smart" and a "modern fool," suggesting that he may have had potential but failed to live up to it. Despite his lack of intelligence, he spoke about being a "freelance broker," although it's later revealed that he was caught trying to choke someone.
The lyrics go on to describe the man as being like a "rat out of the water," indicating that he's out of his element and treading water (figuratively) in his life. He's "out of work and outta grass," suggesting that he's struggling financially and resorting to drugs to cope. The mention of "Mother Mary," who walks by without stopping to talk, adds to the sense of isolation and despair that the man is feeling.
Later, the lyrics describe the man as being "out of school" and sitting in a bar stool, suggesting that he's fallen even further and is resorting to alcohol to cope. He wants to be someone's partner or confidante ("Want to be your girlfriend, love to be your boyfriend...wants to be your man"), but he can't seem to connect with anyone. He remains "always away," suggesting that he's never able to fully engage with the world around him.
Overall, the lyrics to Rat are a poignant and melancholic depiction of a man who has failed to live up to his potential and is struggling with feelings of isolation and despair. While the story is specific to this one man, it touches on themes that many people can relate to, such as the struggle to find one's place in the world and to connect with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Not too smart, just out of school
He's not particularly intelligent and has just finished his education
A teachers pet and modern fool
Despite being a suck-up in school, he's a foolish person
Talked about being a freelance broker
He mentioned that he wanted to become a self-employed financial intermediary
But the police caught him tryin' to choke her
He tried to strangle someone, and the authorities apprehended him
Can't describe him in his corner
It's difficult to characterize him while he's in his designated space
Like a rat out of the water
He's in an unfamiliar territory and feels out of place
Out of work and outta grass
He doesn't have a job, and he's run out of marijuana
Mother Mary, never seems to stop to talk, she just walk on past
His mother, Mary, rushes past him without stopping to chat with him
Down Down, no information one day always away
He's uncommunicative and often inaccessible
But why why, can't I see you
He's perplexed as to why he can't see someone
One day always away
This person he wants to see is always just one day away
Why why can't I be you
He wishes that he could be this other person
He's outta school now, just another taken bar stool
He's left school and is just another regular at the bar
And this neighborhood ain't what he had in mind
The area he's living in isn't what he envisioned
Wants to be your girlfriend, love to be your boyfriend
He wants to be somebody's romantic partner, regardless of their gender identity
Wants to be your telephone, wants to wants to be your man
He wishes he could be someone's constant communication device and is eager to be their partner
Down Down, no information
He's still uncommunicative and doesn't offer much about himself
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAT MONAHAN, ROBERT HOTCHKISS, ROBERT S HOTCHKISS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind