The band takes its name from the New Order song "Love Vigilantes," although their sound tends more to folk, Americana, and country rock than New Wave. Their 2001 album Summershine also showed some movement toward Brit-pop and R.E.M.-style college rock, which would be more fully explored in Mallonee's solo career.
RUNAWAY TRAIN
Vigilantes of Love Lyrics
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Train pretty close to leaving
Deal with your ghosts
Got to deal with your demons
Going down to the freight-yard
Going down in the pouring rain
Gonna play some sad guitar
I will grab a runaway train
Grab a runaway train
Only two tracks take you out of here baby
Now one will make you crazy one will make you sane
I'm going down to the five and dime
Gonna trade my merchandise in
Broken dreams all my money-making schemes
Romantic notions my might-a-beens
Going down to the graveyard
With a pick ax in my hand
Gonna dig down in that georgia red clay
Dig down into the promised land
The opening lines of Vigilantes of Love's "Runaway Train" present a sense of urgency, with the whistle blowing and the train about to leave. The lyrics encourage the listener to deal with their ghosts and demons before it's too late, setting the theme of introspection and self-discovery throughout the song. The verses are comprised of vivid imagery in which the singer paints a picture of himself heading to the freight-yard in the pouring rain to play some sad guitar, standing out in the midst of a hurricane.
The chorus is anthemic in nature where the singer declares he will grab a runaway train implying that he would rather let fate carry him to wherever he needs to be than to stay still while the world keeps moving. The lyrics emphasize that there are only two tracks, one of which will drive you crazy and one that will guide you toward sanity. The singer acknowledges that he is not content with his current situation, and is taking action to change it. The second verse presents the singer heading to the five and dime, trading in his merchandise in pursuit of something more meaningful than his broken dreams and forgotten schemes. The song concludes with the singer working with a pick ax at a graveyard, digging down in the Georgia red clay towards the promised land. The song presents a poignant reminder to look beyond ourselves and confront the things that hold us back before we run out of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the whistle blowing
Listen to the sound of the train's whistle as it prepares to depart.
Train pretty close to leaving
The train is almost ready to leave, get on board or be left behind.
Deal with your ghosts
Confront and come to terms with your past mistakes and regrets.
Got to deal with your demons
Face your inner demons and overcome your personal struggles.
Going down to the freight-yard
Heading to a place of labor and industry where trains are loaded and unloaded.
Going down in the pouring rain
Walking through a heavy downpour, symbolizing personal hardship and struggle.
Gonna play some sad guitar
Expressing one's emotions through music, even when it is bittersweet or melancholic.
Stand out in the hurricane
Facing life's challenges and obstacles head-on, no matter how difficult or chaotic the situation may be.
I will grab a runaway train
Taking control of one's life and making choices, even if they are risky or unpredictable.
Only two tracks take you out of here baby
There are only two paths in life, one that leads to destruction and one that leads to redemption.
Now one will make you crazy one will make you sane
Choosing one of the two paths will have its own consequences, both positive and negative.
I'm going down to the five and dime
Referring to a general store where small inexpensive items are sold, emphasizing humility and modesty.
Gonna trade my merchandise in
Letting go of material possessions and valuing intangible personal growth instead.
Broken dreams all my money-making schemes
Acknowledging past failures and disappointments in the pursuit of wealth and success.
Romantic notions my might-a-beens
Reflecting on what could have been in personal relationships, acknowledging the importance of emotional connection and intimacy.
Going down to the graveyard
Going to a place of solemnity and perhaps mourning.
With a pick ax in my hand
Prepared to do some difficult and perhaps unpleasant work, willing to get one's hands dirty.
Gonna dig down in that georgia red clay
Going to dig deep to uncover hidden truths or secrets, and facing the consequences of doing so.
Dig down into the promised land
Looking for a better future, a brighter tomorrow filled with hope and opportunity.
Contributed by Nathaniel W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.