The band released their debut album, Good Feeling (1997), to moderate success where it debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart and was later awarded a silver certification from the BPI in January 2000. The band gained greater success with their second album, The Man Who (1999), which spent nine weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart, totalling 134 weeks in the top 100 of the chart. In 2003, The Man Who was certified 9× platinum by the BPI, representing sales of over 2.68 million in the UK alone. Following this success, the band released their third effort, The Invisible Band (2001) album. The Invisible Band went on to match the success found with their previous album, where it debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and spent a total of four weeks at the top spot, fifteen weeks in the top ten, and a total of fifty-five weeks in the top 100 chart, as well as peaking at thirty-nine on the US Billboard 200 album chart, spending a duration of seven weeks in the Billboard 200 chart. A year following the release of The Invisible Band, the BPI awarded Travis with a 4× platinum certification for the album.
In recent years, the band's discography has included studio albums 12 Memories (2003), The Boy with No Name (2007), Ode to J. Smith (2008), Where You Stand (2013), Everything at Once (2016) and 10 Songs (2020). In 2004, the band released their first greatest hits album, Singles, which spent nineteen weeks in the top 100 of the UK albums chart. Travis have twice been awarded best band at the BRIT Awards and were awarded the NME Artist of the Year award at their 2000 ceremony, and in 2016 were honoured at the Scottish Music Awards for their outstanding contribution to music. The band are widely said by the media to have paved the way for other bands such as Keane and Coldplay to go on to achieve worldwide success throughout the 2000s, particularly with the success of The Man Who.
Craft Recordings celebrated the 20th anniversary of Travis' breakthrough year with two simultaneous releases: Live at Glastonbury '99, plus expanded editions of The Man Who – both of which were released on 21 June 2019.
Strangers On A Train
Travis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and all my words are lost and found
We both want something new
I'll take the sky, you keep the ground
We can bend, we can brake
We can learn to give and take
Do you have the friends to start a war
What could you shoot or burn
There's still so much left to explore
We were moving so fast for so long
Never taking any hints from no one
And you got running on the reign
Still running from the place where the sun dies
Take a track to the city where our hearts lay
And though our journey's still the same
Just strangers on a train
Close your restless eyes
I've seen them one to far too much
And it's hard to sympathize
When it's not me who's losing touch
Is there a joke you need to make
Is there a smile you need to fake
And you cut so deep you hit the bone
Is there a flame you need to light
Is there a nip and it's a bite
What does it take to guide you home?
We were moving so fast for so long
Never taking any hints from no one
And you got running on the reign
Still running from the place where the sun dies
Take a track to the city where our hearts lay
And though our journey's still the same
Just strangers on a train
If you got love, hold it high
Hold your heart up in the sky
Let it shine, let it shine
If you got love, sing it loud
Hold your heart up in the crowd
Let it shine, let it shine
If you got love, set it free
Hold your heart in front of me
Let it shine, let it shine
If you got love, hold it high
Hold your heart up in the sky
Let it shine, let it shine
Just let it shine
Let it shine
Just let it shine
Just let it shine
Let it shine
(If you got love, set it free, hold your heart in front of me)
Let it shine
(If you got love, hold it high, hold your heart up in the sky)
The lyrics to Travis's song "Strangers On A Train" explore the dynamic of a relationship that seems to have lost its spark. The singer is pleading with their partner, who they feel is not listening, to give their relationship a chance to grow and evolve. They acknowledge that both parties want something new and propose that instead of breaking up, they try to compromise and find a way to give and take.
The lyrics discuss the struggles of communication within a relationship and the challenges faced when trying to navigate personal growth while maintaining a connection with someone else. Throughout the song, the singer empathizes with their partner, asking them if they need to make a joke or fake a smile, encouraging them to let go of their guard and be vulnerable.
The chorus introduces the metaphor of two strangers on a train, who are moving in the same direction but are ultimately strangers to each other. Despite this, the singer suggests that if they have love, they should hold it high and let it shine, encouraging their partner to open up and giving hope that their relationship can still thrive.
Line by Line Meaning
You're not listening
You are not paying attention to me
and all my words are lost and found
My words are scattered and you only hear bits and pieces
We both want something new
We desire change
I'll take the sky, you keep the ground
I will aim high, you will stay grounded
We can bend, we can brake
We can be flexible or we can break apart
We can learn to give and take
We can practice compromise
Do you have the friends to start a war
Do you have the people to fight for you
What could you shoot or burn
What are you willing to destroy
Give me a chance to live and learn
Give me an opportunity to experience and grow
There's still so much left to explore
There are many uncharted territories to discover
We were moving so fast for so long
We were moving quickly and for a long time
Never taking any hints from no one
We did not take advice or suggestions from anyone
And you got running on the reign
You were trying to control everything and everyone
Still running from the place where the sun dies
Still trying to escape from your fears
Take a track to the city where our hearts lay
Let's go to the place where we feel most at home
And though our journey's still the same
Even though we are still on the same path
Just strangers on a train
We are still strangers to each other
Close your restless eyes
Shut your eyes that can't stay still
I've seen them one to far too much
I have seen your eyes like this many times
And it's hard to sympathize
It's difficult to feel for you
When it's not me who's losing touch
Because it's not me who is losing my grip
Is there a joke you need to make
Do you need to be funny to cover up your true feelings
Is there a smile you need to fake
Do you need to pretend to be happy
And you cut so deep you hit the bone
You hurt me profoundly
Is there a flame you need to light
Do you need to ignite a passion
Is there a nip and it's a bite
Is there a slight annoyance that's really a big problem
What does it take to guide you home?
What needs to happen for you to feel at home
If you got love, hold it high
If you have love, show it off
Hold your heart up in the sky
Put your heart on display
Let it shine, let it shine
Let it glow brightly
If you got love, sing it loud
If you have love, shout it from the rooftops
Hold your heart up in the crowd
Make your love known to everyone
If you got love, set it free
If you have love, let it be free
Hold your heart in front of me
Let me see your love
Just let it shine
Just let your love radiate
Writer(s): Andrew Thomas Dunlop, Ali Ingle
Contributed by Aaron G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.