Known as "Van the Man" by his fans, Morrison first rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Northern Irish band Them, writing their 1964 hit "Gloria". A few years later, Morrison left the band for a successful solo career, starting with the album Astral Weeks.
Morrison has pursued an idiosyncratic musical path. Much of his music is tightly structured around the conventions of American soul and R&B, such as the popular singles "Brown Eyed Girl", "Moondance", "Domino", and "Wild Night". An equal part of his catalogue consists of lengthy, loosely connected, spiritually inspired musical journeys that show the influence of Celtic tradition, jazz, and stream-of-consciousness narrative, such as his classic album Astral Weeks and lesser known works such as Veedon Fleece and Common One. The two strains together are sometimes referred to as "Celtic Soul," and Morrison rejects the characterization of his genre of music as Rock, citing Elvis Presley as a non-influence.
He continues to perform regularly and achieved his highest U.S. chart position (number ten on the Billboard 200) with his 2008 album, Keep It Simple.
Fast Train
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you can't come back can't come back together again
And you start breaking down
In the pouring rain
Well you've been on a fast train
When your lover has gone away don't it make you feet so sad
And you go on a journey way into the land
Cause you're under the strain
And you jump on a fast train
You had to go on the lam you stepped into no-man's land
Ain't nobody here on your waveband
Ain't nobody gonna give you a helping hand
And you start breaking down
And just go into the sound
When you hear that fast train
And you keep moving on to the sound of the wheels
And deep inside your heart you really know oh, just how it feels
And you start breaking down and go into the pain
Keep on moving on a fast train
You're way over the line next thing you're out of your mind
And you're out of your depth in through the window she crept
Oh there's nowhere to go in the sleet and the snow
Just keep on moving on a fast train
You had to go on the lam stepping in no-man's land
Ain't nobody here on your waveband
Nobody even gonna lend you a helping hand
Oh and you're so alone can you really make it on your own
Keep on moving on a fast train
Oh going nowhere, except on a fast train
Oh trying to get away from the past
Oh keep on moving keep on moving on a fast train
Going nowhere, across the desert sand, through the barren waste
On a fast train going nowhere
On a fast train going nowhere
"Fast Train" by Van Morrison talks about the experience of being in a fast train that is going out of the rails. The song emphasizes the inability to return from this fast train, no matter how much you want to. Instead, you break down in the pouring rain as the strain takes its toll. The song also touches on the experience of being alone and isolated, with no one to help you. The journey is not easy, but it is essential to keep moving forward, even if you are unsure of your destination.
The song speaks to the human experience of feeling lost and aimless, without any sense of direction. The fast train can represent the chaos that sometimes comes with life, with no clear endpoint in sight. The train also represents the need to keep moving forward, even when the road ahead is uncertain.
In summary, "Fast Train" is a song about the human experience of being lost, isolated, and struggling to make sense of life. It encourages listeners to keep moving forward, no matter how challenging the road ahead may be.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you've been on a fast train and it's going off the rails
You've been living life recklessly and things are getting out of control
And you can't come back can't come back together again
Things have gotten so bad that there's no returning to the way things were
And you start breaking down
You're beginning to fall apart emotionally
In the pouring rain
Your problems continue to accumulate and it feels like there's no end in sight
When your lover has gone away don't it make you feet so sad
Losing someone you love can be such a painful experience
And you go on a journey way into the land
You try to escape your pain by going on a physical or emotional journey
Cause you're under the strain
The stress and anxiety of your situation is weighing heavily on you
And you jump on a fast train
You seek out something that will help you forget your problems momentarily
You had to go on the lam you stepped into no-man's land
You've committed some kind of crime or act that has made you a fugitive
Ain't nobody here on your waveband
It seems like no one else can understand or relate to your situation
Ain't nobody gonna give you a helping hand
You're not expecting anyone to come to your aid and help you out of your predicament
And just go into the sound
You're using music as a way to distract yourself from your problems
When you hear that fast train
You seek out things that will give you a temporary escape from your troubles
And you keep moving on to the sound of the wheels
You're continuing to live life in a reckless manner, despite the consequences
And deep inside your heart you really know oh, just how it feels
You're aware that you're only compounding your problems by not dealing with them, but you continue to do it anyway
And you start breaking down and go into the pain
Your problems are getting worse and they're causing you emotional and physical pain
You're way over the line next thing you're out of your mind
You've gone beyond what's acceptable or reasonable, and you're losing your grip on reality
And you're out of your depth in through the window she crept
Someone unexpected has entered into your life, causing you more turmoil
Oh there's nowhere to go in the sleet and the snow
Your problems and situations are now inescapable and overwhelming
Just keep on moving on a fast train
You're desperate to keep moving forward, even if it's in the wrong direction
Nobody even gonna lend you a helping hand
You feel like you're completely on your own and don't have anyone to rely on
Oh and you're so alone can you really make it on your own
You're feeling isolated and unsure if you can get yourself out of your situation
Oh going nowhere, except on a fast train
Your actions are only causing you to dig yourself deeper into a hole
Oh trying to get away from the past
You're running away from your problems instead of facing them head on
Going nowhere, across the desert sand, through the barren waste
You're wandering aimlessly and things aren't getting any better
On a fast train going nowhere
You're continuing down a path that's not leading anywhere good
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind